Ethos Public Relations Manchester

First affordable housing on Rochdale estate kicks off £4.1m regeneration

by Ethos public relations

Brighter Horizons, the charitable development subsidiary company of ALMO Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), has recently completed the first phase of a major new build programme in the Kirkholt area of the borough.

Guests from the Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) joined Board Members to view the development of six bungalows - the first new build affording housing in the area since the estate was built. The visitors also viewed progress at a second, larger scheme on the estate, situated on the corner of Curzon Road and Cumberland Road.

Gareth Swarbrick Chief Executive of RBH said: “The completion of our first new build in Kirkholt is an important milestone for the area itself and for Brighter Horizons.

"In 2010 our Brighter Kirkholt scheme received the biggest general needs HCA funding allocation in the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) region. It is exciting to see our plans take shape and become a reality.”

Much of the Kirkholt estate was built in the late 1940s and the long-term vision for the area is to offer a mix of modern housing for sale and rent and much improved facilities.

The new bungalows have been architect designed to meet the Lifetime Homes Standard, and the larger development will include a further three bungalows as well as 25 three-bedroom houses and two four-bedroom houses. These properties will include homes for sale, rent and shared ownership and it is hoped these homes will help to create confidence in the market and attract private developers to Kirkholt.

The new build is complemented by environmental works to surrounding homes and so supports a joined up approach to regenerating the estate with a scheme that provides additional jobs and training.

The total investment on the new build alone in Kirkholt is £4.1m including £2.32m grant funding from the HCA and prudential borrowing from Rochdale Council.

Deborah McLaughlin, Executive Director North West for the HCA said: “It’s really encouraging to see the regeneration of Kirkholt continuing to gather pace and I’m pleased our support has allowed Brighter Horizons to complete such good quality new homes.

"It’s thanks to the hard work and dedication of RBH and their partners that schemes like this are making sure that the long-term vision for the area is becoming a reality."

All of the new homes have been designed and constructed to meet Code 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the HCA Design and Quality Standards, Lifetime Homes Standard and have Secure by Design Accreditation. It is anticipated that the next property handover will be in March 2012 with the entire scheme completed in August 2012.

The development team is comprised of contractor Southdales Ltd, Great Places Housing Group as Development Agent, Kevin Shea Associates as Employers Agent, Pozzoni Architects and Trevena Blake as Structural Engineers.

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Posted at 28^th November 2011