Hive Homes on board for Rochdale ‘rail corridor’ housing

The joint venture between Greater Manchester Combined Authority and 10 housing associations plans to build 100 homes on a brownfield site in Castleton, part of a 7,000-unit programme covering land around the borough’s five stations.

Proposals submitted to Rochdale Council for the former Carcraft site in Nixon Street also include the allocation of land for a new primary school, catering for 420 pupils.

The planning application is for 102 three- and four-bed family properties. If approved, the redevelopment will represent a £17.5m investment into the area, and bring a better mix of housing to Castleton, which is currently dominated by terraced properties.

Cllr John Blundell, cabinet member for a thriving economy at Rochdale Council, said: “Our rail strategy is about taking advantage of our great connectivity, one of our most important economic assets, to drive forward more regeneration projects across the borough. By building close to railway stations, we’re giving people good quality new homes with great transport links, so they can easily access jobs and leisure opportunities both within Rochdale and all along the rail line, from Leeds to Manchester.

“Since launching our rail strategy earlier this year, we’ve already signed an agreement with Capital & Centric to create 200 new homes close to Rochdale railway station, as well as securing millions in external funding to continue our redevelopment of the Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum, which is also in this area. It’s great to see yet another project being progressed as part of this strategy, this time in Castleton, which will play a big role in our next phase of regeneration in the borough.”

The council and Rochdale Development Agency are currently creating masterplans for each of the station areas, with aspirations to create up to 7,000 homes along the rail corridor.

If Hive Homes’ application is approved, work to build out the site is set to start early next year, with the homes, which will be for private sale, expected to be available in 2022.

Ed Milner, project director at Hive Homes, said: “This is the second scheme secured by Hive in Rochdale in the last 12 months and with a third scheme in Heywood now in the pipeline, we are looking forward to making a real impact in the borough.”

Hive Homes was formed in 2018 and has 400 homes in the pipeline. The GMCA has a 20% stake and 10 housing providers share 80%. The 10 are Irwell Valley Homes, Bolton at Home, Great Places, Mosscare St Vincent’s, One Manchester, Onward, Salix Homes, Southway Housing, Trafford Housing Trust and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.