More new 'affordable' housing is set to come to Tameside, with the latest development at Portland Basin now under way.

The brownfield site in Ashton was a former industrial builder’s yard and was acquired by Jigsaw Homes Group in 2015 for housing - a move which was backed by Tameside Council.

Planning was originally approved in 2018 but the site layout and steep slope meant a revised plan with an updated design needed to be submitted, and permission for this was granted in 2019.

The proposed scheme was for 50 homes for affordable rent, consisting of 32 one-bedroom apartments, five two-bedroom houses and 13 three-bedroom houses.

Following detailed work between Tameside Council and Jigsaw Homes, GMCA Brownfield Housing Fund was bid for and successfully secured which, together with funding from Homes England, means the development would now go ahead.

These new properties are being built by contractor Casey and are expected to be completed in August next year.

Cllr Ged Cooney, Tameside Council executive member for Housing, Planning and Employment, said: “I’m delighted that additional affordable housing is being built in Tameside, especially when it’s making the most of a brownfield site in a great Portland Basin location. From this area new residents will find easy access to the centre of Ashton and close links to public transport.

“This is one of many housing developments currently underway across the borough as we look to provide a variety of new homes for a new generation of buyers and renters.”

Joanne Bonnington, Assistant Director of Development at Jigsaw Homes Group, said: “As an active housing provider in Tameside, we are pleased that this latest scheme is now able to get underway through strong partnership working with our consultants Wilkinson Cowan, Alan Johnston Partnership LLP and Milson Group.

“We are always determined to make even the more difficult developments work, so we can provide more quality homes to meet the local housing need. We have recently completed a number of other schemes in the borough and will continue to develop here in the future as part of our plan to build 800 homes a year across the North West and further afield.”

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