HCA grant kick-starts McInerney project

Oldham Council and its housing management vehicle First Choice Homes Oldham have been awarded £2.1m by the Homes & Communities Agency to finish a development in Hollinwood.

McInerney Homes, working with the council, will build the remaining 32 family homes at Byron Green to be let at affordable rents. The HCA grant is matched by funding from the council.

The council sold the land in 2001 to McInerney Homes to build new homes for sale after demolishing maisonettes and flats on the site. About half of these were completed before the downturn in the housing market.

Deborah McLaughlin, North West regional director of the HCA, said: "The Byron Green scheme is great example of how the HCA is helping to maintain momentum during the market downturn. By investing in innovative and effective partnerships like this, we can make sure that the building of much needed affordable homes continues. HCA are particularly pleased to be able to support a scheme that is clearly so important to local people."

Pennington's advised Oldham council and FCHO.