Oldham Council praises the quality of our new Fitton Hill development

Oldham Council’s Deputy Chief Executive recently toured our Fitton Hill project and complimented us and our developer Vistry Group on the quality of our properties.

Emma Barton visited our Rosary Road site where we're starting to take delivery of 101 mainly family homes in a £15.7 million investment in partnership with Vistry.

She met with us and Vistry staff before looking around newly completed homes for shared ownership and social rent now ready for customers as the first phase of the development starts to complete.

“I was incredibly impressed with everything I’ve seen and the quality that’s shining through,” Emma said. “Just being able to see the space that's available to the families who are going to be taking up residence here is really great.”

She explained the council was delighted FCHO is now building the affordable family homes the borough needs with nearly two thirds at Fitton Hill three and four-bedroom properties. “It was something that the council committed to a while ago, trying to accelerate the number of social affordable family homes that are available and the fact that FCHO is our largest provider and they've jumped on this and have got their own pipeline coming forward is great news.”

Our CEO Mark Gifford said: "Many thanks to Emma for taking the time to see what our partnership with Vistry at Fitton Hill is doing to help the housing crisis here in Oldham.

"These are exciting times for FCHO. We are committed to building at least 600 new homes over the next few years and we value our partnership with Oldham Council and Vistry as we ensure this ambition is met.”

The first phase of 29-three-and-four-bedroom properties are built on the site of the former Fitton Hill Secondary Modern School and will be completed this summer. The other 72 homes are being built nearby and will be finished in winter 2027. The first FCHO customers picked up their keys in mid-July with all homes for social rent allocated through Oldham Council’s housing register.

All are highly energy efficient with Energy Performance Certificate ‘A’ rating and equipped with solar PV and electric vehicle charging points. During the visit Emma Barton met with Mark, our Executive Director of Corporate Services Andy Ewart, our Construction Manager Jamie Smith and Dan Wood, Projects Director at Vistry Manchester and Cheshire East.

He said: “It was fantastic to hear how Vistry’s partnership with First Choice Homes Oldham is helping Oldham Council to keep its commitment to accelerating the availability of affordable family homes.”

Homes for shared ownership properties are being marketed under Fabric Living, our affordable home ownership brand.