Work has started to build a new affordable house estate in Breightmet.

The £6.5M development is taking place on the site of the former SS Osmund's RC Primary School on Blenheim Road.

Construction firm McCauls, based in Astley, is building 11, three bedroom and five, two bedroom houses together with a three-storey apartment block which will contain 18 one bedroom apartments and six, two bedroom apartments.

Around 50 people are working on the site and most of the contractors are local to the region.

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The development should be completed by mid- 2024 and the homes will then be made available at an affordable rent through Bolton at Home.

The project is the third between McCauls and Bolton at Home, having worked together to deliver affordable housing schemes at St Mary’s in Horwich and Barton Road in Breightmet.

Joe McCaul, director of McCauls said: “I am pleased to be continuing our relationship with Bolton at Home with the scheme at Breightmet and it’s great to be on site bringing much needed new homes for the community.

"We make every effort to use local labour and the majority of contractors are based in Greater Manchester keeping income in the local economy.”

Bolton at Home owns, manages and maintains more than 18,000 homes across the borough.

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As well as providing affordable homes, the organisation also delivers a wide range of services to support tenants and communities.

Dominic Conway, Bolton at Home’s group director of development and growth said: “We’re building new homes to help more people into a warm, comfortable and sustainable place to live that’s also affordable.

"On this development the new homes include one bed apartments and family homes.

“Building new homes helps to reduce the pressure on our housing system, creating more housing choice and ultimately reducing the risk of overcrowded homes or people experiencing homelessness.

"We also hope these homes will support the local community, reusing a derelict piece of land for good.”