Eyesore sites to be transformed as housing developments get underway

Date published: 22 March 2019

A project to transform four major brownfield sites in Rochdale is underway with the developers laying the foundations for 264 new homes.

The £35m Countryside and Sigma Capital Group plc scheme will breathe new life into the sites at Roch Street, Entwisle Road, Durham Street and Norwich Street.

The sites were all previously earmarked for regeneration under the government’s Housing Market Renewal (HMR) project, but the projects stalled after HMR was discontinued in 2011 and funding to redevelop the sites was withdrawn. Some of the Rochdale sites set to be redeveloped by Countryside have been derelict for well over a decade.

The properties will be a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses, with 48 apartments also set to be delivered. They will all be available for private sector rental.

Councillor Linda Robinson, assistant to the cabinet member for Planning, Development and Housing at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The fact that Countryside and Sigma Capital Group plc are working to regenerate these long-term empty sites demonstrates the huge potential they see in Rochdale and its appeal as a place to live.

“When it comes to development, we’ve always operated a brownfield preference policy and building homes such as these, close to major transport links and the town centres, creates sustainable and vibrant communities in areas in need of regeneration.

"We’re also working hard to bring forward land for around 2,000 homes in and around Rochdale town centre as part of this strategy. This includes targeting stalled sites with planning permission and actively using our CPO powers to bring empty land and properties back into use to satisfy the growing demand for homes in Rochdale.”

The homes are all set to hit the market towards the end of next year. Collectively, all four sites are expected to generate around £1.3m in New Homes Bonus and a further £300,000 per year in council tax receipts.

Philip Whitehead, Regional Regeneration Director of Countryside, said: “Countryside has worked closely with the council to bring land that has stood fallow for a considerable period back into beneficial usage and, in so doing so, provide much needed new housing.”

Graeme Reay, Land Director at Sigma, said: “We’re really excited to be working with Rochdale Council and Countryside to deliver more, much needed, rental homes in Rochdale. We’ve experienced a large amount of interest already for these new sites and the performance of our existing sites in Rochdale have been outstanding, which is really encouraging – we have no doubt that we will experience high demand for this new scheme.”