Oldham tenants benefit from £2.3m energy upgrade

More than 130 homes in Oldham have been given a major energy upgrade that's already cutting bills and making life more comfortable for residents. The £2.3 million project by First Choice Homes Oldham focused on properties in Abbeyhills and Roundthorn, with work including triple glazing, better insulation, and improved heating controls.

Sylvia Jones, who's lived on Roundthorn Road for 25 years, says the difference is dramatic. 'I've gone from spending £40 to £50 a week on gas in winter to around £20,' she told us. 'The house heats up so much quicker now and stays warm for ages.

The upgrades are part of a much bigger £31.4 million programme aiming to bring all FCHO homes up to at least a C rating on the Energy Performance Certificate scale by 2030. Similar work is already underway in Shaw and Chadderton, with Saddleworth, Holts Village and Alt scheduled for improvements starting in April.

Olivia Greenhalgh, sustainability manager at FCHO, said the investment is already making a big difference. 'To have warmer homes that cost much less to heat is really important,' she said. For residents like Sylvia Jones, it means not just lower bills but a better quality of life-warmer homes, less noise, and one less thing to worry about as energy prices keep rising.