Vacant land set to be disposed for housing

Vacant land in Oldham is set to be disposed of to make way for major residential developments.A report is seeking cabinet approval for Oldham Council to dispose of three plots of vacant land in Derker.The sites will be developed by Hive Homes, which will build 134 affordable and market sales properties. A total of 44 affordable properties will be constructed to carbon neutral standards, while 90 market sale homes will be built using low carbon standards.The development will also be gas-free.All the properties will be houses with 52 two-bed and 82 three-bedrooms.There are a number of vacant sites in Derker that were cleared as part of the Housing Market Renewal Programme and have remained vacant for more than ten years. The sites include a number of individual council-owned plots totalling approximately ten acres and cover land at the former Cromford Mill, Abbottsford Road and old Derker Hotel site, London Road and Evelyn Street.Cabinet is requested to approve that the council disposes of three vacant plots in Derker by way of a direct land sale to Hive Homes.They will also be asked to back The Brownfield Housing Land Grant agreement for Derker is completed between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Hive Homes.Oldham’s cabinet will meet on Monday 21 March.