Work has started on a £24m regeneration scheme in Derker, Oldham, which will see Seddon and Hive Homes deliver 132 carbon-neutral homes across five disused brownfield sites.
The sites were acquired by Hive Homes from Oldham Council with an aim to accelerate housebuilding in the area.
The scheme will include 21 homes for affordable rent, 23 shared ownership and 88 properties for open market sale.
Homes will be built to high energy efficiency standards and will produce no carbon emissions when people are living in them – reducing energy use and long-term running costs for residents, while supporting Greater Manchester’s wider low-carbon housing ambitions.
The development will also pump £11.8m into the community and local economy, supporting jobs, skills, apprenticeships and the local supply chain.
The first homes be completed in October 2026 at the London Road site, with further homes to follow at Cromford Street and Evelyn Street. Abbotsford Road will form the final phase of the scheme. All homes are expected to be completed by Spring 2028.
Formed in 2018, Hive Homes is backed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and a consortium of leading housing providers, with a focus on delivering genuinely affordable private homes across the city region.
Hive Homes secured funding through GMCA and the Brownfield Land Fund before appointing Seddon as contractor for the scheme, continuing a strong working relationship established on previous schemes in Rochdale, Middleton and Radcliffe.
The development will include a mix of detached, semi-detached and mews properties, and has been designed to meet local housing need for more than 600 people.
Richard Sterling, Development & Decarbonisation Director at Seddon, said:
“This project reflects what we value most at Seddon – strong partnerships, thoughtful regeneration and homes that genuinely improve everyday life.
“Working together with Hive Homes, we’re bringing forward carbon neutral homes that are better for residents, better for the environment and are built to last.
“It’s a clear example of how future-proof housing can be delivered at scale on challenging brownfield sites.”
Ed Milner, Managing Director at Hive Homes, said:
“Derker has a real need for high-quality, affordable homes, and this development is about responding to that need in a meaningful way.
“By transforming underused brownfield land, we’re creating energy-efficient homes people can afford to live in, while ensuring that profits are reinvested into social housing across Greater Manchester.”
The development marks one of the region’s most ambitious regeneration projects to date, unlocking brownfield land to support sustainable growth and long-term community benefit.
TWC Consulting has been appointed to provide specialist energy expertise for the project. The homes will be delivered using timber frame construction and will operate with no connection to gas, supported by solar panels and smart energy systems.
A heat recycling system will capture and redistribute warmth throughout each home, improving efficiency and reducing energy bills for residents. The scheme is designed to exceed the requirements of the Future Homes Standard.