Wigan Council has been awarded more than £2M to building 35 new, affordable homes for rent at a site in Leigh. The funding comes from the Homes and Communities Agency, the government body responsible for housing and regeneration schemes across the country. Together with the council’s own investment in the scheme, the total value of project will be £4.5M.
The new development on the site of the former Wigan Council day centre at The Orchards, Leigh will provide a mix of two, three and four bedroom homes.
Consultation about the plans is already underway with residents living near to the site and, whilst the scheme has yet to receive planning permission, if all goes to plan it is hoped that work will begin this summer. The properties would be ready for letting by summer 2011.
Wigan Council’s Cabinet Champion for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Kevin Anderson, says of the scheme: “This is great news for the borough! It is significant that Wigan is one of only five successful bidders for this funding in the whole of the North-west.
“This is a testament to the borough’s pro-active approach to development and brining investment into the borough. Indeed this announcement will provide not only homes but also support a significant number of jobs in the construction sector, helping us out of the recession.”
The scheme will be part of the largest national council house building programme for over two decades that has been funded by central government via the Homes and Communities Agency. It forms part of a larger package of measures to boost the house building industry during the recession by increasing the supply of homes, safeguarding construction industry jobs and bringing vacant land back into use.
Together with a number of other current schemes this scheme will provide much needed good quality family accommodation in the borough.
Cabinet Champion and board member of Wigan and Leigh Housing, Cllr Fred Walker, says: “I am delighted with the news. In the last year the company has worked closely with the council in putting in bids to the Homes and Communities Agency for grants to build affordable homes for rent. Our four bids have all been successful, with 52 dwellings at Kay Close, Scholes, six bungalows at Etherstone Street, Leigh and eight houses at Windsor Avenue, Astley and now the 35 homes at The Orchards. We are already on site at Kay Close and the first of the homes will be finished for people to move in for next Christmas. A big well done to all those involved.”
Deborah McLaughlin, NW Regional Director of the Home and Communities Agency adds: “Today’s announcement of a further round of new build schemes for councils is great news for the North West.
“This new funding will give further stimulus to some of our key regeneration areas by providing vitally needed new homes to help people get on the property ladder and by protecting many jobs in the region’s construction industry.”
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