New affordable homes in Bury

Date published: 05/02/2010

St Vincent’s Housing Association has just started the development of 24 new affordable homes at Bridge Hall Drive in Bury, almost 40 years since its first affordable housing scheme built in 1971, also in Bury.

The development marks St Vincent’s welcome return to the Bury housing market, after the association was selected in 2009 as one of the borough’s new Joint Commissioning Partners.

The scheme is being built in partnership with Blackpool based Melrose Developments, and is part funded with £1.3m investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The two-bedroom apartments aim to be the first residential development in Bury to meet Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which will mean that they will be more efficient economically and more environmentally friendly that traditionally built schemes.

Yvonne McDermott, development manager for St Vincent’s Housing Association, which owns and manages some 3,000 quality affordable homes across the North West, stated: “St Vincent’s has a development programme of 200 units over the next few years and we are particularly pleased to be back developing in Bury.”

Deborah McLaughlin, regional director North West for the Homes and Communities Agency, said: “Our vision for the North West is to create vibrant and sustainable communities where people choose, and can afford, to live. The provision of affordable housing plays a vital role in achieving our goals so it is goo to see this scheme get off the ground.”

Chris Chadwick, managing director of Melrose, added: “We have a long history of developing affordable housing schemes across the North West and have worked with a wide range of housing associations. We have been delighted with the progress we have made with St Vincent’s on this particular development.”

Councillor Beverly Sullivan, Bury Council’s executive member for health and well-being, is supporting the scheme. “St Vincent’s is one of the council’s strategic housing partners in the delivery of affordable housing,” she said, “and this scheme will help to address the increasing demands for affordable, rented housing in the borough.”

The development is due for completion in 2010.