A NEW housing development comprising 62 ‘affordable’ homes has been officially opened in Droylsden.
The site of a former industrial unit, Waterway Close incorporates 26 three-bedroom family homes and 36 one-bedroom apartments – all for ‘affordable’ rent.
They were built on the previously vacant brownfield site, through a partnership between Jigsaw Homes, Tameside Council, Homes England and contractor J Greenwood.
MP Angela Rayner, who represents Droylsden in Parliament, cut the ribbon to mark the opening and chatted to residents.
She was joined by Tameside Council Leader Cllr Gerald Cooney, representatives from Homes England and Brian Moran, the Chief Executive of local housing provider Jigsaw Homes Group, which manages the homes.
The homes have been allocated by the local authority and through homeless nominations from Tameside Housing Advice.
They have canalside views and private gardens, as well as car parking for the apartments, private car ports and electric vehicle charge points. Refuse and recycling storage is also included.
Welcoming the development, MP Rayner said: “It’s really important that we are building more new affordable homes, as there is a huge shortage especially here in Tameside.
“It’s testament to Jigsaw, their partners and Tameside Council who have worked together to bring this development to life, that schemes like this are available for people who need them most.
“The most important thing is that the people here who have been waiting a long time now have a place to call home.”
Brian Moran, Chief Executive of Jigsaw Homes Group, commented: “We have a long-standing commitment to the borough, with a great track record of providing affordable homes to help meet local demand, with more than 7,000 people on the waiting list for housing in Tameside alone.
“It was a pleasure to have welcomed Angela Rayner here to see this scheme, to meet some of our residents and to hear more about the work we are doing to build homes and create vibrant communities.”
Cllr Cooney, who represents the Droylsden West ward on Tameside Council, added: “We are working proactively with our partners to build more homes in our borough as the demand is huge.
“It takes organisations like Jigsaw and other housing providers to regenerate industrial and brownfield sites and deliver housing that is needed now more than ever.”