Orchard Housing Development Completes Ahead of Schedule
35 families to get new homes
A new estate of semi-detached social housing has been completed in Wigan this month (October 2011), on time and on budget and helps to home 35 families in Leigh.
Eric Wright Construction, part of the Preston-based Eric Wright Group, designed and built the £3 million estate for Wigan & Leigh Housing, an arms' length organisation working with Wigan Borough Council.
The estate is on the site of a former hospital behind the terraced street of Leigh Road, with access from Chatham Street and Carrington Street. They are numbered 1-36 Chatham Street (with no 13). There are 13 two-bedroom, 14 three-bedroom and four 4-bedroom houses as well as four 2-bedroom flats on the estate. All units were completed to meet Code for Standards Homes and incorporate energy saving measures as well as high levels of insulation, meaning lower utility bills for the new residents.
The project, including extensive landscaping and infrastructure was completed ahead of the 12-month timescale.
Wigan Borough Cllr Kevin Anderson, cabinet champion for communities and the environment, said: "Last year I was delighted to welcome a Leyther into the first new council house built in our borough for a generation. I'm proud that it wasn't a one-off, and that we have had a successful partnership to deliver, so far, 105 new homes to such a high standard."
"The £3.5m project has been built by Eric Wright Construction and has provided a much needed boost to the house building industry in Wigan Borough, creating local employment and training opportunities. The project has been supported by £1.4m of investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) as well as Wigan Council's own funding and land.
Cheryl Foster, New Build & Regeneration Programme Manager for Wigan and Leigh Housing, said: "The units delivered were excellent and the team were very client and community focused."
The Eric Wright Group has been involved in other social housing projects, including ten homes completed in Carnforth for Impact Housing Association last year, and a joint project planned with another registered provider for 27 new homes in Lancaster.
Photograph: Left to Right: Cllr Susan Loudon, Cllr Kevin Anderson (Portfolio Holder - Environment and Communities), Peter Layland (Wigan council - Head of Housing and Community Regeneration), Nicola Wooding (Homes and Communities Agency), Darren Clayton (Eric Wright Construction), Cheryl Foster (Wigan and Leigh Housing)
Posted: 11th October 2011