Homes given a new lease of life

Victorian terrace properties around Rochdale are being given a new lease of life with improvement work being carried out to more than 80 homes in Milkstone, Deeplish, Wardleworth and Hamer.

Jackson, Jackson & Sons and Greenwoods have undertaken the work, which has involved rebuilding garden walls, restoring stonework and erecting handsome steel railings.

Oldham and Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder and Rochdale Council have commissioned the refurbishment and Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Zulfiqar Ali said: "Refurbishing these properties provides a new lease of life for people's homes, keeping them warm, dry, safe and secure. Improving the external appearance brightens the neighbourhood as a whole and we have focussed on properties on some of the major routes into Rochdale that pass through the neighbourhood."

"I would like to thank residents for their patience and co-operation as the work has been carried out."

Years of grime have been removed from the nineteenth-century brickwork, walls have been repointed and new fascia and soffits installed. Some houses have also had new windows installed to replace rotten frames. Drainpipes and gutters have been renewed, using low maintenance materials that are sympathetic to the historic buildings.

Chris Green of Jackson, Jackson & Sons explained: "It's been a really interesting project. We've been very focussed on customer care, working closely with local residents to carry out the works with the minimum of disruption."

John Greenwood, Managing Director of Greenwoods added: "The investment in East Central Rochdale means we are now beginning to see a real improvement in the building fabric of the area. It is extremely satisfying to feel that you are playing a part in revitalizing a whole community."

Refurbishing homes is an important part of the strategy of the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder in Rochdale and Oldham. Housing Market Renewal aims to improve the prosperity of Rochdale neighbourhoods through a package of initiatives including building new homes, refurbishments and environmental improvements. Since 2004 more than 1600 properties have been refurbished across the Pathfinder.

The Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder has been awarded £67.5 million for the 2006-2008 period of a 15-year project. The Housing Market Renewal project aims to tackle some of the deep-rooted problems that face communities in Oldham and Rochdale. Its purpose is to bring about lasting change in order to improve people's quality of life, and to drive up the prosperity of the area.