10 October 2023
The start of work at Fitton Hill ‘Hartshead View’, has been marked by ground-breaking ceremony, with Countryside Partnerships welcoming partners to celebrate the delivery of 365 new homes at the development in Oldham.
Countryside welcomed representatives from Great Places, Sigma, and Oldham Council to the site situated on the brownfield land formally occupied by Fitton Hill County Infant, Fitton Hill Secondary Modern and Marland Fold Schools, as well as a now-demolished housing estate.
Working in partnership with Great Places Housing Group and Sigma Capital, Countryside will deliver 97 build-to-rent homes under Sigma’s private rental band, Simple Life, and 81 affordable houses to be managed by Great Places.
The Leader of Oldham Council, Councillor Arooj Shah, and the Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Elaine Taylor, were taken on a tour of the site where they were able to learn more about the £83mil development that is set to transform this part of Greater Manchester.
Joe Turner, Managing Director, Manchester and Cheshire East, Countryside Partnerships: “Through collaboration with partners such as Great Places and Sigma our development portfolio remains diverse, delivering the homes that people need in the areas that need them most. It was a fantastic opportunity to welcome Oldham Council to Fitton Hill, as they have played a crucial role in the project’s realisation. This celebration marks a significant milestone in our journey, and it’s a testament to the commitment of our partners. Together, we are bringing a development that will not only satisfy local housing demand, but will also enhance the wider community through significant investment.”
Matthew Harrison, Chief Executive at Great Places, commented: ““We’re delighted to be working with Countryside and Sigma to deliver 81 homes at Fitton Hill, a development that will provide much-needed affordable housing for the local community. The scheme is testament to the power of partnership working.This project demonstrates our commitment to creating great places to live across Greater Manchester, and we look forward to seeing the progress of the development and welcoming the first residents in 2024.”
Jason Berry, Regional Managing Director at Sigma Capital, commented: “We’re delighted to be working with our long-term partners Countryside Partnerships on the new development in Oldham. Some of our very early build to rent Simple Life developments with Countryside are located in Oldham and we have always experienced high demand amongst the local community for professionally managed, high-quality rental homes. With community and people at the heart of our brand, we’re excited to be in a position to deliver more much needed family homes in this area.”
Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, commented: “I was really happy to be take part in the ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on these much-needed homes for Oldhamers, on land that had been derelict and vacant for more than 20 years. Working with our partners, we’ve been able to design a development that will promote a real sense of community, bringing together residents from different walks of life. I’m looking forward to the development to take shape and for families across Oldham to benefit from these homes.”
