Hightown Housing Association to redevelop Telford Court site in St Albans; social housing to be maximised
Hightown Housing Association is to redevelop the site of an ageing tower block in St Albans to provide much-needed new social housing.
St Albans City and District Council owns Telford Court, a high rise which was built more than 50 years ago and would cost many millions of pounds to refurbish.
The Council has now decided to transfer the site, subject to final terms being agreed, to Hightown HA after considering all options for its future.
As part of the deal, Hightown HA has agreed to maximise the amount of new social housing on the site.
The Council will retain the right to nominate all future tenants for the social rent properties from its Housing Register.
Telford Court would have required a major upgrade to be compliant with new fire and safety regulations which are due to come into force.
The Council decided, after consultations with residents, that the better option was to demolish the building and redevelop the site with modern homes.
Councillors on the Housing and Inclusion Committee agreed to transfer the site to Hightown HA at its September meeting.
Councillor Simon Johns, the Committee’s Chair, said afterwards:
When we looked at options for the future of the Telford Court site, we decided it would be best redeveloped by a major social housing provider.
It would have been too big a project for the Council to take on itself and we wanted to ensure the site continued to provide social rent homes.
We invited bids from social housing providers and they were all subjected to a rigorous procurement process.
I am delighted that process has now concluded and that Hightown HA will soon start work on the redevelopment once all the contractual details have been finalised. They share our vision for the site and we look forward to seeing their detailed plans.
As a Council, we are committed to providing new social housing for the District and this project to redevelop Telford Court with Hightown HA is a clear demonstration of that.
Hightown HA manage more than 9,300 homes, mainly across Hertfordshire, and employ around 1,000 staff.
It aims to help people who need support and care or who cannot afford to buy or rent a home at market values.
Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727-819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.