FCHO terminates contract with developer over unacceptable delays to £3.7m project

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) today terminated its contract with developer Robwood Construction Limited over unacceptable delays to a £3.7 million project in Royton.

The company was appointed to build 30 one and two-bedroom affordable apartments at Shaw Street on a fixed price contract in May 2022, with completion scheduled for February 2024. 

Delays have been a result of a variety of issues but now are solely focused on poor contractor performance. 

FCHO worked with Robwood Construction to address the delays and to ensure the project was finished by the end of last year. This included more funds released by FCHO to the company to ensure the project was finished. 

However, progress has still remained unacceptably slow; contractor performance has been below the required standard and FCHO will now take over the site to ensure completion. 

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly but a delay of more than two years by this main contractor to finish this project is simply unacceptable,” said FCHO chief executive Mark Gifford. 

“It has come to the point where we can see no realistic prospect of this development finishing unless we take control. This is despite considerable financial and practical support from FCHO including ensuring all payments due to Robwood Construction have been made.” 

Mr Gifford added: “We want to see this development finished because people need to move into these homes. We also recognise this has been a building site for too long and nearby residents are rightly concerned about the delays.” 

Mr Gifford explained letters had been sent to neighbours nearby explaining the situation. 

“We are now on site and assessing just how long it will take to finish the project,” he said. 

“When we have made this assessment, we will be able to give a realistic completion time frame to the community."