New housing development opened by the deputy Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner took some downtime following a rigorous week of interviews over the government’s approach to cladding and right to buy to open a newly built housing development.

Although it wasn’t quite a DJ set in Ibiza, Angela Rayner seemed in good spirits as she spoke to new tenants of the latest affordable housing scheme to come to her home constituency of Ashton. Brickfields House, a newly completed development of 42 affordable rent homes for over 55s, is one of a number of schemes her Labour government want to see introduced in the next few years.

The Henrietta Street development, built by Southway Housing Trust in collaboration with Watson and BTP Architects, was given a ringing endorsement from the deputy PM with an official ribbon cutting.

“Quite a small set of scissors,” Mrs Rayner joked as she was handed the comically large cutting implements. After a few dozen photographs the deputy PM took a tour around the new age-friendly, 21,800 square foot, development where she offered a few furnishing tips to the housing provider executives who flanked her.

It was a whistle-stop tour for the local MP who has faced huge media attention this week over her stance on the Right to Buy scheme. It was reported that the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government wanted to scrap the scheme famously brought in by Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Mrs Rayner has since claimed that she wants to reform the policy so that local authorities don’t lose out on the cash they put into social housing by having to sell them off at discounted rates. Following the release of the Grenfell report, she also stated that she wants to see quicker removal of dangerous cladding, which was one of the leading causes for Grenfell tower going up in flames.

Housing and communities is a key part of her portfolio in cabinet, so despite the two main issues on her plate this week were about Right to Buy and cladding, a housing development like the one she opened is her department’s bread and butter. By supporting this latest Ashton scheme, it shows an appetite from Whitehall for these affordable housing developments.

Brickfields House replaced the former Emmanuel Court building consisting mainly of bedsits built in the 1970s which were no longer fit for purpose. The new scheme received grant funding from Homes England and £530,000 from Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund.

For new tenants like Elaine Deakin, it’s a ‘dream come true’.

“I moved in on the 8th. It is brilliant so far – it is just so quiet here,” the 62-year-old said. “Before I was on the second floor with my 21-year-old dog.

“I fell down the stairs and injured my knee and back, but my old housing provider wouldn’t move me to a ground floor flat. My occupational therapist told me they’ve got me a ground floor flat.

“I just love it. I just needed to get out of where I was.

“I told my old landlord, after I fell down the stairs five years ago, that I needed a ground floor flat – so I’ve been waiting a long, long time. I was on the waiting list but they just weren’t moving their feet.”

Elaine remained tight-lipped about her conversation with the deputy Prime Minister, but believed it is positive that she turned up to the opening. The new tenant believes the area needs more housing like this one as there are many others like her who need better homes.

John Bowker, Southway Housing Trust’s chief executive, said: “Greater Manchester and the UK as a whole is facing a housing crisis and I’m pleased that Brickfields House helps to address local housing need by providing quality homes for older people to live independently.

“This is our first development of its kind in Tameside and it was fantastic for Angela to join us in celebrating the completion of these new homes with our residents.”

Mr Bowker explained that Labour’s priority to bring in more housing is something that he can get on board with considering Southway Housing’s plan to build thousands more homes in the coming years. But the housing boss wants to see the planning process become slicker. 

With a national shortage of planning officers, he’s not quite sure how that is managed, but believes this is one way to get more housing done at a faster rate.

Rob Watson, director of Watson Homes, said: “We are pleased to have collaborated with Southway Housing Trust to bring much needed affordable homes to Ashton-under-Lyne, at a time when the country as a whole is facing a housing crisis. 

“It was heartening also to see deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner sharing our sentiment towards the significance of this project in her local constituency. We are committed to providing affordable, quality homes to the North West that will enhance the lives of local communities for years to come.”