New affordable homes on a brownfield site in the heart of Whitefield

Thirty affordable homes will be built on the derelict spot of the former Wheatfields day care centre in Victoria Avenue, Whitefield.

This is part of the council’s brownfield housing delivery programme co-ordinated by its major projects team.

The council has agreed to dispose of the brownfield site to Onward Homes who would build a mixture of houses for affordable rent, shared ownership family homes, and accessible bungalows specifically for older people and people with disabilities.

The council will retain 100% nomination rights for the affordable rented properties to help tackle housing waiting lists.

The project aims to start on site in early 2022, subject to planning permission, and be completed within 18 months.

Councillor Clare Cummins, cabinet member for housing services, said: “There is an increasing shortage of affordable housing in the borough, and many families are finding it difficult to access a suitable home they can afford which meets their needs.

“Our housing strategy prioritises affordable housing development, including provision for older people and specialist groups such as people with disabilities.

“This project will address some of those needs, as well as being a prime example of our ‘brownfield first’ policy in creating new homes.”

The Wheatfields building was demolished in 2018 and the site has been derelict since. The site is located next a large social housing estate, also owned and managed by Onward Homes, who are the largest registered provider of affordable homes in Besses Ward, Whitefield.

The council is using Brownfield Land Funding of £350,000 from the GMCA to remediate the site so that it is suitable for building new homes on.

Onward Homes is part of the Greater Manchester Housing Partnership. They are the largest registered provider of affordable housing based solely in the North West, owning and managing 35,000 homes. They are also the largest housing owner in the borough apart from the council, with a sizeable portfolio of property on the Rivers Estate in Whitefield bordering the Wheatfields site.

ENDS

Press release issued: 14 October 2021.