Official launch of our new Fairfield Road apartments in Droylsden

We have officially launched our new Fairfield Road and Canalside developments in Droylsden - celebrating quality homes at affordable rent, with panoramic views across Manchester.

We were delighted to welcome Tameside council leader Councillor Brenda Warrington who addressed guests - praising the transformation of the site from three years earlier when she took a tour of our properties and prospective developments.

Earlier this year we became an official partner of the local authority and she said she was looking forward to continuing to work together to tackle the housing shortage through the delivery of safe, quality, secure and affordable housing.

Representatives from Homes England - who provided £2.7m of the £10m project, which also includes nearby Canalside apartments - were also among the guests, along with contractor Vistry, and Markhams quantity surveyors.

Guests enjoyed a tour of the Fairfield Road block - made up of 38 2-bedroom apartments - and also visited the roof, which has views towards Manchester. We were thrilled to have the Backup charity’s ‘Coffee that counts’ Van there providing the refreshments - raising funds to support homeless young people in Bolton.

Resident Stephen Marshall said he was delighted to be a new tenant, after moving there with his son from our Haughton Green estate.

He said: "I’m over the moon to have a brand-new home for me and my son, in such a central location, at a rent I can comfortably afford and with the stability we need. It’s making such a difference to our lives."

Stephen wanted to return to Droylsden from Denton because his 19-year-old son Rhyce works in the area.

"I’ve been an Irwell Valley Homes tenant for 10 years and loved my time on the Haughton Green estate," he said. "But when my son moved back in with me I knew I needed to look at moving over to Droylsden – the place he grew up and where he works."

"I wanted to keep the stability of having a housing association as my landlord and I’ve got nothing but praise for Irwell Valley Homes, so it seemed like fate when these apartments become available.

"Although the rent is a bit more than what I was paying on the social rent tenure in Haughton Green, it’s much more affordable compared to a privately rented property, which can be very expensive around here. I know of people who have had to move out of Droylsden because the rents kept increasing – and without any investment in the homes themselves either."

Fairfield Road also has solar panels to power communal energy and a sedum roof to promote wildlife and biodiversity.