24 new family homes to be built on derelict Middleton site under £6.79 million housing plan

Tuesday, 4 November 2025 14:33

By David Murphy

FCHO has signed a £6.79 million contract to build 24 family homes on a derelict brownfield site in Middleton

A long-abandoned Middleton site is set for transformation as First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) announces plans to build 24 new energy-efficient homes, following a major £6.79 million investment.

A disused plot on Greenhill Road, once a depot for local brewers JW Lees, will soon become a thriving residential space after lying dormant for 15 years.

FCHO has awarded a construction contract to Middleton-based firm J Walker Homes, who will build 16 homes for social rent and eight for rent to buy. The properties, designed with energy efficiency in mind, will include two and three-bedroom homes fitted with solar panels and are expected to achieve at least a B rating on the Energy Performance Certificate scale.

Work is due to begin this month, with the scheme scheduled for completion in May 2027.

“This is an exciting new project to add more high-quality and energy efficient family properties to our housing stock in Middleton,” said Steve Agger, executive director of homes at FCHO.

He added: “We are breathing new life into a derelict piece of brownfield land unused for 15 years and transforming it into these much-needed family homes that address the housing crisis in the area.

“Partnering once again with J Walker Homes is another positive aspect of the project. It is an established local company based just a stone’s throw from Greenhill Road with a track record of using local contractors and apprentices.”

The total project cost is being supported through a mix of funding, including £2.16 million from Homes England and a £480,000 grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), alongside FCHO’s own investment.

The scheme comes as local authorities across Greater Manchester step up efforts to tackle housing shortages, particularly in areas like Middleton where demand for affordable family housing has soared.