Artisan completes family houses for Rochdale HMRI
Artisan has completed the first phase of a family housing development for Oldham and Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder.
The 16, three- and four-bedroom houses in Nelson Place in the Wardleworth area of Rochdale are now occupied and will be followed by 38 more for rent or to buy.
The modern terraces each have two private balconies and a patio. They were designed in response to requests from the local community for larger homes that also offer private outdoor areas to help combat overcrowding.
Alastair Graham, director of the Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder said: "This new development uses innovative design to achieve spacious rooms with lots of natural light. The homes have been built on a steep gradient, achieving a reinvention of the terrace street.
"Despite the credit crunch, we are working with all of our developer partners to enable the continued transformation of our local communities which have been worst hit by long-term depressed housing markets."
Priority was given to residents affected by clearance of outdated terraced properties in the area. The properties achieve an Eco-homes 'Very Good' standard and are environmentally sustainable, using materials from 'green' sources that help to cut residents' fuel bills.
A further nine homes will soon be ready for other families to move into and planning permission has been granted on the remaining phases, which will take the total number to 54.
Carol Ainscow, chairman and chief executive of Artisan, said: "The handover of the first units demonstrates Artisan's commitment to the delivery of the Nelson Place development and our commitment to East Central Rochdale moving forward. The new homes are a flagship for innovative design and are very much a symbol to the local community that regeneration remains on the agenda in East Central Rochdale and Artisan remain very much behind this."
The Housing Corporation and the North West Development Agency are also supporting the building of the new homes and the project has been assisted by Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Council.
