Summary
North Warwickshire Borough Council has committed to build 25 new affordable homes at several locations in the area. They are due to be completed by the beginning of March 2011.
Key learnings for other councils
- Consultation is vital to ensure that everyone is aware of the proposals and the timescale of the developments.
- A development agent was appointed to provide the expertise and help the council through the process.
Background
North Warwickshire has strong historic and current links to the mining industry. The council has been regenerating properties purchased from the Coal Authority in the early 1970s. The majority of the new properties the council will provide will be built in former mining areas, although they are not part of the regeneration process.
There has been a decline in recent years in the housing stock as a result of tenants exercising the Right to Buy. The current recession has caused an increase in the numbers of applicants joining the housing register. North Warwickshire has always been a ‘community of communities'. However, it is now difficult for residents who are born and bred in the area to remain in the locality. House prices mean they cannot afford to stay.
The problems and how we tackled them
The last time the council built any new homes was approximately 16 years ago and so the necessary development skills were lacking. Thus a development agent was appointed to provide the expertise and help the council through the process. This has worked really well. North Warwickshire is one of the first second round councils of the new build programme to start building onsite.
The local community was consulted in all four development sites. This was to ensure that everyone was aware of the proposals and the timescale of the developments. The council agreed to look at a local lettings policy when the properties are ready to be allocated.
There will be four development sites:
- George Road, Water Orton - nine bungalows for older people in Water Orton. This will help to free up family housing on the current estate.
- Bromage Avenue, Kingsbury - six family homes consisting of four three-bedroom houses and two two-bedroom houses.
- Sycamore Crescent, New Arley - six family homes consisting of four three-bedroom houses and two two-bedroom houses.
- Eastlang Road, Fillongley - four family homes consisting of two three-bedroom houses and two two-bedroom houses.
Outcomes and impact
All the new properties will be built to level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and also complying with the Lifetime Home Standard. This will incorporate:
- Parking - there will be sufficient land either side (up to 3.3 metres) to allow for disabled parking if required.
- On the downstairs toilet there will be drainage for a future shower under the floor which will allow a ‘wet room' to be incorporated.
- Sufficient turning circles in all rooms for wheelchair users.
- The layout of the houses will be designed to accommodate a vertical lift if required.
- The roof joints will be strengthened to accommodate a hoist if required.
- Both the upstairs bathroom and the downstairs toilet walls will be strengthened to incorporate grab rails if needed.
Next steps
Work begun onsite on 31 March on demolishing garages, along with other preparatory work. The construction process is scheduled to start in May 2010. All homes are due to be completed by the beginning of March 2011.
The 25 new properties will therefore help reduce the backlog in supply and satisfy housing needs of local residents.
Contact
Paul Roberts
Housing Strategy and Development Officer
Email: [email protected]