New brownfield homes aim to give renters lift
MORE than 260 brand new homes are being developed around Rochdale, bringing regeneration and a boost for renters.
The properties, being built across four brownfield sites as part of a £35 million project, are available for rent only and are said to already be attracting a “large amount of interest”.
Simple Life Homes are behind the developments, and say they aim to offer stability and benefits usually afforded to homeowners such as the security and peace of mind of a long-term home.
Prospective residents can currently apply for homes at all four sites, including Rochwood Rise, Brookside Grange, Norwich Green and Harewood Close.
A showhome is being unveiled at Rochwood Rise this month and will provide an opportunity to see what homes could look like across all of the new developments.
Rochwood Rise, which is close to amenities, shops and leisure attractions, will include a range
●●Seen here at the laying of the foundations for some of the new homes at Rochwood Rise last year are, from left, Graeme Reay, land director at Sigma, Councillor Linda Robinson, assistant to the cabinet member for planning, development and housing at Rochdale Council, and Philip Whitehead, regional regeneration director of Countryside of two, three and fourbedroom homes with the first tenants moving in towards the end of this month.
Two, three and fourbedroom houses are being built at Brookside Grange, near to Rochdale town centre, along with two blocks of one and two-bedroom apartments.
Houses will be available to live at the development from the middle of February, with apartments due for completion in the summer.
A selection of two and three-bedroom houses are expected to be available to move into from mid-February at Norwich Green, which backs onto Rochdale Canal; and two and three-bedroom homes at Harewood Close, which is close to Rochdale Station, are expected to be ready in spring this year.
The developments are among 15 Simple Life Homes schemes around Greater Manchester, and follow the success of the Coral Mill site in the Newhey area, which is said to have proved “continuously popular” with customers.
Graeme Reay, land director, said they’re “really excited” to be delivering more rental homes in Rochdale.
He added: “We’ve experienced a large amount of interest already for these new sites and the performance of our existing sites in Rochdale has been outstanding, which is really encouraging - we have no doubt that we will experience high demand for these new schemes.
“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.
“Simple Life is challenging the common social aspirations within the UK of buying a home by presenting an enhanced long-term rental option, allowing people the freedom of having more disposable income as opposed to having to save a long-term hefty deposit.”
He added that their ethos is that “no one should be made to wait to live in a nice home in a nice area.”
If saving up the deposit and securing a mortgage to step onto the property ladder isn’t possible, new build rental homes can provide the same high quality properties.
Houses and apartments come with fixtures and fittings including fully integrated kitchens complete with fridge/freezers, washing machines and dishwashers.
They are unfurnished, which developers say allows residents to stamp their own style in every room.
There’s also potential to add a four-legged friend to the family as pets are accepted on an application basis with additional rent applying.
Residents can enjoy onsite events such as Easter egg hunts, ice cream van visits and an appearance from Father Christmas and his reindeer during the festive season.