Simple Life breaks ground on Rochdale homes

A project to transform four major brownfield sites in Rochdale is under way with developers laying the foundations for 264 new homes.

Roch Street

The Simple Life and Countryside Properties scheme will breathe new life into the sites at Roch Street, Entwisle Road, Durham Street and Norwich Street. The current programme is for the first homes to be available for applications off-plan from Summer 2019.

The sites were all previously earmarked for regeneration under the government’s Housing Market Renewal (HMR) project, but the projects stalled after HMR was discontinued in 2011 and funding to redevelop the sites was withdrawn. Some of the Rochdale sites set to be redeveloped by Countryside have been derelict for well over a decade.

The 216 properties will be a mix of two, three and four bedroom houses with 48 apartments also set to be delivered, all available exclusively to rent through Simple Life.

Councillor Linda Robinson, assistant to the cabinet member for Planning, Development and Housing at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The fact that Simple Life Homes have invested such a substantial amount to regenerate these long term empty sites demonstrates the huge potential they see in Rochdale and its appeal as a place to live.

“When it comes to development, we’ve always operated a brownfield preference policy and building homes such as these close to major transport links and the town centres create sustainable developments and vibrant communities in areas in need of regeneration.  .”

Graeme Reay, Land Director at Simple Life comments:

“We are really excited to be working with Rochdale Council and Countryside Properties to deliver more, much needed, rental homes in Rochdale.  We’ve experienced a large amount of interest already for these new sites and the performance of our existing sites around the Rochdale area such as Coral Mill and Shrewsbury Close have been outstanding, which is really encouraging – we have no doubt that we will experience high demand for this new scheme.  Under Simple Life, customers will not only benefit from a high quality product which includes all the modern fixtures and fittings, but they will also benefit from a professional landlord who is really breaking the substandard ‘norms’ associated with renting.”

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