More than 130 eco-friendly homes, a third of which will be affordable, are set to be built in Derker after plans were approved.

At the meeting of Oldham Council's planning committee on Wednesday, April 17, the proposal to build 132 homes on vacant land was discussed by members.

The homes will be built on four separate locations, with 47 homes to be built on Abbotsford Road, 29 on Evelyn Street and 28 homes both London Road and Cromford Street respectively.

The homes will be developed by Hive Homes and 43 homes, roughly a third of the total proposed properties, will be made affordable, including 23 which will be affordable rent properties and 20 which will be shared ownership dwellings.

Speaking at the meeting, Ed Milner, managing director at Hive Homes, said the affordable social homes will be carbon neutral while the private homes will be developed to a "low carbon standard", which he said is "only just behind the carbon neutral standard".

Mr Milner said the homes will be part of a gas free scheme, meaning they will have no gas boilers, leading to "far, far lower" running costs, and will be part of an "ambient heating system" where a pump draws heat from the outside and converts it in the home.

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He added: "In terms of sustainability it's a huge step forward compared to comparable housing developments in the borough."

Also speaking at the meeting was local ward councillor Josh Charters, who said he was "very supportive" of the scheme which would see homes developed on brownfield sites.

The houses developed on Cromford Street is the site of the former Cromford Mill, which had become an area of trees and vegetation before it was flattened to allow for this scheme.

The plans were approved unanimously by the 11 members at the meeting.