Crossfield Living has been appointed as the preferred partner to deliver new homes at West Vale.

Housing association First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has selected the company to redevelop the West Vale neighbourhood, where two iconic tower blocks currently stand, has moved up a gear with north-west-based, Crossfield Living set to build 88 new homes at the site.

FCHO plans to transform the area west of Oldham town centre and create a place where people, families and businesses there can thrive, were approved by Oldham Council last month. The West Vale development forms part of our £160m plan to deliver 850 homes in Oldham and the surrounding areas by 2026.

Crossfield Living has been selected to progress to the second stage of a two-stage tender process to build the 88 new homes which will include 26 houses – a mix of two, three and four-bedroom family homes – along with 62 one and two bedroom apartments to help meet local housing need.

The scheme also includes landscaping across the site and a recreational space with an equipped play area, providing a much-needed facility for younger children in the neighbourhood.

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As part of its £12m investment in new homes at West Vale, Crossfield has also pledged to deliver a social value plan designed to leave a positive legacy in the local community.

Subject to consultation with residents, social value proposals could include setting up a purpose built 'Community Hub' managed by a dedicated Project Skills Coordinator. This would then be a key facility from which we, the Crossfield team and other community stakeholders can deliver a range of community development and engagement initiatives to benefit people in the surrounding neighbourhood.

Contributing to the local economy and creating jobs and training opportunities for local people will also be central to the project. Crossfield Living will work with regional supply chain partners as well as creating jobs, work placements, training and mentoring opportunities, all to encourage local people into the construction industry and improve job prospects.

96% of all site waste will be diverted from landfill and a series of sessions to promote health, wellbeing and inclusivity are planned to help raise living standards and promote equality.

Joel Owen, FCHO's Director of Development said: "Our West Vale development presents an excellent opportunity to not only build high quality, modern, much-needed affordable new homes, but also deliver impactful social value. We want to make a positive difference to local people and businesses, now and in years to come and I'm delighted to be partnering with a contractor who we specifically chose to work with based on the fact they share our social value vision for the area, residents and the community."

Crossfield Living will begin work at West Vale in spring 2022, with homes due for completion in autumn 2023.

Demolition of the 1970’s towerblocks, Crossbank House and Summervale House will be carried out by Oldham-based specialist, D Hughes & Excavation Ltd. Work will commence in August this year and last until January 2022.