TRANSFORMING THE LOCAL HOUSING MARKET

In March 2004, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister awarded Oldham Rochdale Partners in Action ?53.5mn for the first two years of a pathfinder project to reverse the decline in demand for homes in parts of Oldham and Rochdale's housing markets.

The Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal (HMR) Pathfinder Project is one of nine pathfinders in England and is part of the government's Sustainable Communities Plan.

Transforming neighbourhoods
Work is already underway in targeted neighbourhoods in Oldham and Rochdale to transform the choice of housing - for sale and rent - through an extensive programme to demolish outdated properties, to refurbish others and to build high-quality homes that meet the needs and aspirations of residents today and tomorrow.

This programme of work is complemented by projects to tackle issues such as crime, anti-social behaviour, training and employment opportunities and transport links that also influence where people choose to live.

Innovative design
High-quality innovative design is a key priority in our plans for transforming neighbourhoods.

We will be building contemporary homes to innovative designs using modern materials. They will be energy-efficient and affordable. This will create neighbourhoods where people have a wide choice of new, refurbished and existing housing.

Neighbourhoods will be designed to give people more privacy and make them safer, by making clearer distinctions between people's private homes and gardens and public space, by including more off-street parking, and by having properties that overlook streets to make pedestrians feel safer.

Community cohesion
High-quality design will improve community cohesion by resolving residents' concerns about crime and open space and by giving people more pride in where they live.

Ensuring neighbourhoods include properties for people who live alone, couples, families, the young, the elderly, and those who want to rent or buy will give people from different backgrounds and at different stages of their lives the opportunity to live together.

Working in partnership . . .

. . . with residents
The plans to transform Oldham and Rochdale's neighbourhoods are based on extensive research and wide consultation, including a MORI survey sent to all 200,000 households in the boroughs.

. . . with partner organisations in Oldham and Rochdale
The Oldham Rochdale Pathfinder Project for improving demand for homes is overseen jointly by the Oldham and Rochdale Local Strategic Partnerships, 'Partners in Action', representing a wide range of organisations and community groups.

The pathfinder is working particularly closely with Oldham and Rochdale Councils to ensure that HMR investment is integrated into the masterplans for both boroughs and to attract further investment.

. . . with the private sector
Oldham and Rochdale Councils are currently working in partnership to procure a consortium of private-sector companies to deliver the building, refurbishment and environmental works for each of the first HMR neighbourhoods.

Further opportunities are being actively explored to increase the level of private-sector involvement in this 15-year project.

For more information, contact Oldham Rochdale Partners in Action, Suite 31, Meridian Centre, King Street, Oldham OL8 1EZ Tel (0161) 911 4154 E-mail: hmr.coreteam@oldham.gov.uk