Werneth/Freehold, Oldham
The latest Werneth is Changing newsletter was published in February 2009.
The Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder is transforming Werneth/Freehold in Oldham into a thriving, neighbourhood, with a mix of different housing types to suit different people’s needs and aspirations.
We are replacing some of the old, terraced houses with new, well-designed homes suited to modern needs; turning old industrial sites into state-of-the-art housing developments; improving road layouts and making better use of open space.
Work is well underway at a site at Suthers Court, where Keepmoat Homes will have 57 new homes available early in 2009. Great Places Housing Group has completed 23 new homes of various sizes and tenure on Devon Street. The new homes are built around a Home Zone, a street where priority is given to pedestrians.
Around £26 million has been invested in the neighbourhood, to improve the exterior of homes and buy properties for clearance, demolishing unpopular former Council properties on Broadmount Terrace, Reedham Walk, Featherstall Road, Hartford Square and St John’s Walk. Also we provide financial support to affected residents, tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and carry out environmental improvements.
And there is much more still to come. Millions more of HMR funding and other public and private sector sources will be invested by 2011. Work will include further clearance to make way for new homes and building will commence on new properties within the area.
Developments across Werneth are helping to promote the neighbourhood as an increasingly desirable place to live. More information is available from the Werneth is Changing website.
Meanwhile, we are progressing plans to transform former industrial sites. A team of British architects recently won a European architecture competition to work with residents on plans to develop desirable new homes for the future on Spencer Street. We are also looking at options for breathing new life into Hartford Mill.
Local people continue to have a big say in the plans. There are regular consultation events, residents' forums and people can drop in to speak to trained Community Housing Officers at the neighbourhood office at 80 Tamworth Street for information and support.