Council reveal plans for brand new homes - and promise shorter waiting lists

The council has pledged to bring shorter waiting lists after approving the building of 22 brand new homes.

The new "affordable" homes, which are planned for Croft Street, Smallbridge, will be the first for 30 years, and will noticeably reduce the waiting times for people who want to move into a council property.

The Pennines Township Committee previously authorised Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) to draw up a detailed proposal to redevelop the bungalows which are currently on the site.

A Cabinet meeting at Rochdale Town Hall on Monday 24 November saw the approval of the development, which could cost the council £1m to construct.

Current residents of Croft Street will get first choice on which of the new bungalows they occupy as the new build will increase the number of houses on the street from ten to a total of 22/23.

Councillor Mohammed Sharif, portfolio holder for regeneration, said he is looking forward to the changes that lie ahead.

He said: "Everybody is happy about having new council homes in the town because we so desperately need them.

"We haven't had approval for council homes since the 1980's so this is a real boost for us.

"It is good news for us at the council and it is good news for the people of Rochdale who will subsequently experience shorter waiting lists and quality affordable homes."

A spokeswoman for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing said: "This is great news for us as we have been lobbying Parliament for new homes for years. It has been so long since we have had anything like this.

"We hope to see a decrease in waiting times for potential council residents so we can provide quality homes.

"Much of the detailed information is yet to come, as the decision has only just been passed, but we will inform you of more as we find out."

RBH has submitted a detailed planning application to develop 18 two-bedroom bungalows and four three-bedroom houses at Croft Street.

The properties will all be built to the Housing Corporation's national Scheme Development Standards which set out very clear standards for all new social rented in terms of space standards and accessibility.

The homes will have at least one car parking space per property.

All will have enclosed rear gardens. They will also be built to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes which means they will have a very high degree of thermal efficiency and low heating costs.