On Thursday, August 8, 2019 representatives Dave Catherall, Andy Hunt and Bryn Cooke from Project Partner Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (OMBC), Jamie Smith from Project Partner First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) and Giuseppe Colantuono from Lead Partner Leeds Beckett University (LBU) gathered for a progress meeting at Oldham Council.
Bryn Cooke (Head of Housing, OMBC) discussed the range of groups and strategies at Greater Manchester level which can be influenceed by the Project Partners, such as Housing Officers Group, Planning Officers Group, Social Housing Providers Executive Group (20 members), Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, GM Housing Strategy.
Andy Hunt (OMBC) and Giuseppe Colantuono (LBU) talked about the algorithm, the control unit which could be provided by EDF, the progress being made by Craig Woods (the FCHO M&E consultant) and the time of day tariff already being provided in the UK by Octopus Energy.
Following the meeting in Oldham, the Project Partners and Lead Partner met with Maria Gonzales from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Maria Gonzales is the GMCA Principal Officer for International Relations working closely with the Greater Manchester elected Mayor Andy Burnham. The Greater Manchester Mayor is the lead for the 5 year environment plan, this sets a target for Greater Manchester to become carbon neutral by 2038, and pledges that the city region will have resource efficient buildings, greater local community renewable energy. In addition, a conversation with the International development officer that supports the mayor of Greater Manchester took place.
OMBC and FCHO gave an overview of what sites they will be using the system on and what properties on the sites will have the system. This included the latest plans – site layouts, house types & initial basic RED WoLF system.
An update on the current planning situation of both sites – Hodge Clough has received planning permission and Pearly Bank was deferred as the committee requested more information. Anticipating a July 2020 finish.
Furthermore, they discussed the current programme i.e. start on site etc. and also the possibility of taking on more units – to be discussed in further details at a later date.
They also talked about the Project Partner target that they are aiming to have construction drawings, specification and SAPS ready for the next meeting in Sligo, Ireland (September 18-19 2019) which their consultant has already been invited.
Picture below, from left to right:
Jamie Smith, First Choice Homes Oldham
Andy Hunt, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
Giuseppe Colantuono, Leeds Beckett University
Dave Catherall, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
