A NEW £2.5million development of affordable homes in Haughton Green has been completed.
Irwell Valley Homes, who own and manage 900 homes in the area, has built 16 three-bedroomed properties off Wordsworth Road with the help of a £584,000 grant from Homes England, which was set up earlier this year by the Government as one of the key steps towards delivering the homes the country needs.
They are a mix of semi-detached and mews style homes that have been let or purchased through the Government’s shared ownership scheme, helping local people onto the property ladder.
Twelve of the properties, which are valued between £165,000 and £173,000, are shared ownership starting at 25 per cent of the cost. The remaining four have been rented.
To mark their completion, Irwell Valley Homes hosted a street party for the new neighbours, local councillors and partners from Tameside Council and Homes England who helped to deliver these new homes.
Sasha Deepwell, chief executive of Irwell Valley Homes, explained these are the first affordable homes the company has built for more than a decade.
They are set to start two further developments in Tameside. These are for 24 affordable rent apartments on Mount Street, Hyde, and 66 affordable rent apartments on Fairfield Road, Droylsden.
She said: “There is an acute need for more affordable homes across Greater Manchester. We are developing more than 1,250 affordable new homes over the next five years, helping to meet the growing housing need across our region.
“This includes new homes like these for affordable rent, as well as shared ownership plus supported housing for those who need extra support to live independently within our communities, reducing pressures on health and social care services.
“We are also making significant investments in our existing homes and working with key partners including Homes England, local authorities and the Greater Manchester housing providers to reduce homelessness and deliver better housing options for customers.”
“We are delighted that customers have moved into these fantastic new homes. Giving local people a home they can afford within their community is certainly something to celebrate.”
Cllr Brenda Warrington, executive leader of Tameside Council, said: “Developments like this are just what we need as the shortage of housing in Tameside is extremely acute and a lot of people in the borough are technically homeless.
“Schemes like this are very beneficial and we need more homes and a good mix to suit all needs.
“Irwell Valley Homes have not invested in affordable homes for 10 years and we are delighted we are the first borough they are investing in.
“They provide good homes that ordinary families can afford. It’s no surprise that all 16 properties were quickly snapped up.
“I’d like to congratulate Irwell Valley Homes on a splendid scheme and I look forward to more affordable housing in the future.
“As a Haughton Green resident it was great to meet my new neighbours. No wonder we had a street party – helping people to get a foot on the property ladder really is something to celebrate.”
Christine Hill, from Homes England, added: “We have been working with partners across the North West to ramp up the number of new homes built each year, and I am really thrilled to see Irwell Valley Homes contributing to that supply of new homes.
“The Irwell Valley Homes team has an ambitious outlook and is working to create some fantastic and affordable homes to help meet the housing needs across Greater Manchester.”
Single mother Faye Sharples and five-year-old daughter Brooke were delighted to move into their new home.
It was the ideal opportunity for Faye, 39, to get on to the property ladder.
Faye, a civil servant, took the option of shared ownership in which she bought a share of her home with Irwell Valley Homes holding the remainder.
She said: “This was a perfect opportunity for a single parent on their own.
“I have been saving for a long time and lived with my mum for two years so I could save for a deposit.
“It has been a long journey, but I have finally got there. I couldn’t be happier as it is a beautiful home for Brooke and myself.”