Description:

This first development under the Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder is also the first Building for Life Gold Standard winner in the North West region.

Issue: The scheme replaces houses and flats built in 1986, which had destroyed the 19th century street pattern and suffered security and access problems, making them hard to let.

Strategy:

Demographic change produced a demand for larger units in the area, so these 18 high quality new homes in two parallel terraces built for large families are suited to the needs of the local community. Ten houses are for affordable rent, four are shared ownership and four have been sold outright. Sited along two streets in an area of small terraced houses, the project reinstates the urban pattern.

The unusually wide fronted houses permit car ports, front doors and windows onto the street. Where monopitch roofs are south east-facing they accommodate solar panels connected directly to all hot water tanks, topped up by condensing gas boilers when required. These should provide 90% of hot water in summer and 60% in winter, reducing average energy bills by up to 60%. Back gardens are orientated to avoid overshadowing and water butts collect rainwater from flat kitchen roofs. The homes are constructed to meet “excellent” Eco Homes standard.

Outcome: The new housing brings over 100 new residents into the area and the creation of a pocket park from nearby neglected open space, formerly the site of old terrace housing, has contributed to local amenity provision.