Great Places recently hosted Jim McMahon, MP for Oldham West and Royton and Cllr Elaine Taylor, Cabinet Member for Housing at Oldham Council to celebrate their 25,0000th home.
Alongside Great Places’ Chief Executive, Matthew Harrison, they met Evanya, Great Places’ 25,000th customer at her new home at Vernon Gardens in Royton. They had the chance to speak to Ms Morrison who after a period of homelessness, recently moved into one of the 49 affordable properties at the new development delivered in partnership with Kellen Homes.
Evanya, Great Places customer, said:
I’d like to thank Jim McMahon and everyone at Great Places Housing Group for bringing me and my family back together again. Our lovely new home has opened up so many life-changing opportunities for us, which up until now hadn’t been possible.
We are now thriving as a family and we couldn’t be happier!
In response to the deepening Housing Crisis, Great Places remains committed to building more affordable homes across the North of England. In Oldham alone, they are currently investing £53M to deliver over 275 new affordable homes across sites including the former Our Lady’s RC High School in Royton, Foxdenton in Chadderton, Maple Mill in Hathershaw, and Mill Farm Close in Fitton Hill.
Commenting on the visit, Jim McMahon, MP for Oldham West, and Royton, said:
The quality of the houses is fantastic. We all know how much we need good quality, affordable homes in Oldham and to see plans and developments come to fruition to such effect in Royton is pleasing, we need more to be done on this and this is a good step in the right direction.
Meeting with residents today whose lives have been transformed and given the security they need in life by being able to access their own secure, affordable and good quality housing is proof that when we can build these homes, they do have a massive effect on improving people’s lives.
The visit concluded at The Primrose Community Centre in Chadderton managed by Great Places as part of its Gateways to Oldham PFI housing and regeneration venture. Guests had the opportunity to meet with Najma Khalid MBE, founder of local community group, CHAI (Care Help and Inspire), which delivers vital digital support services for women.
Matthew Harrison, Chief Executive of Great Places added:
Building much-needed additional affordable housing is a major focus for Great Places. Demand in Oldham is huge so we’re delighted to have had the chance to showcase Vernon Gardens and hear how the provision of our new homes there have had a life-changing impact for Evanya and her family.
It’s also great that the milestone of 25,000 homes in management was achieved in Oldham, a town where we love to work and where we have great partnerships with the Council and a variety of other agencies.
Partnership working is in our DNA and it was great to also have opportunity to speak to customers and local community groups in our Primrose Bank neighbourhood, part of our PFI partnership with Oldham Council which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.
The Community Centre and the work we’ve done with partners to create vibrant sustainable communities across all of the PFI neighbourhoods is a great example of what can be achieved through the power of partnerships.
