Kellen Homes has joined forces with partners Sigma Capital Group and First Choice Homes Oldham to deliver 311 new homes at Mill Vale off Don Street in Middleton.
This week the three house builders and housing providers visited the site to officially mark the start of remedial works on the development which will include 45 affordable homes – four specially adapted for people with a disability – as well as 99 ‘built-to-rent’ properties for Sigma’s Simple Life Homes brand and will be built on the former British Vita playing fields either side of the River Irk.
Mark Calvert, land director for Kellen Homes, said the day marked a significant step forward in the plan to build new homes in Middleton. He said “Mill Vale has been both a challenging site to bring forward, but also an obvious choice for the homes that local people so desperately need. It’s in a great location and gives us the opportunity to collaborate and deliver a mixed tenure development that perfectly suits local needs.
“We are focused on creating a community of quality and affordable homes and we are working with our partners Sigma and First Choice Homes Oldham to do exactly that.”
Lee Catterall, Senior Project Manager at Sigma commented: “We are thrilled to announce the start our first partnership venture with Kellen Homes to deliver 99 homes under our Simple Life Homes brand at Mill Vale.
‘At Sigma, we are proud to be in a position to invest in the Middleton area which is currently seeing a mass of regeneration projects. As specialists in the Build-to-Rent industry, we strive to make a real difference within the UK by acknowledging areas that are experiencing an undersupply of high quality, professionally managed, family homes to rent.
“With over 5000 properties already built, we have no doubt that Mill Vale will provide an excellent hub for a growing community looking for pet friendly homes with the peace of mind from having a place to call home for as long as they wish”.
Keith McFarlane, Head of Development at First Choice Homes Oldham said: “We are thrilled to mark the start of work at Mill Vale, in what we hope will be the first of many joint projects with Kellen Homes.
“The scheme will enable us to provide more, great, family homes – including four adapted houses - across a range of tenures to meet housing need and make home ownership possible for more people. These properties are part of our continued significant investment in new, high quality, sustainable, affordable homes in Rochdale, Oldham, and surrounding areas, where demand continues to be high.
“I look forward to seeing the build progress and the homes becoming a thriving and sustainable part of the community.”
Kellen Homes will make a financial contribution of more than £1m towards education, outdoor sports and wildlife and plant life as part of the scheme and the plans also include the first part of a future link road with Hilton Fold Lane, while allotments will be transferred to the council.
A total of 550 new trees will be planted on site and 60 bird boxes and 30 bat boxes erected. Kellen Homes will also make a financial contribution of £91,650 towards plant life and wildlife habitat offsite.
