More Council homes to be built
Work to create 18 more homes for social rent in the St Albans District is due to start later this year.
St Albans City and District Council is redeveloping empty Mereden Court, a former sheltered housing block in Tavistock Avenue, Sopwell, St Albans.
Planning permission (1) has been obtained to redesign and refurbish the building into 14 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom flats.
They will be assigned to people in housing need who are on the Council’s Housing Register.
The cost of the project is estimated at £3.2 million with the Council due to apply to the Government agency Homes England for help with funding.
Asbestos has been cleared from the building and the construction contract will go out to tender shortly.
A contractor is expected to be appointed by the end of July with work set to start in August and be completed by April next year.
The transformation of Mereden Court is part of an ambitious Council programme to redevelop sheltered housing blocks that are showing signs of age.
Linley Court, in Valley Road, is to be turned into 28 properties by Aldwyck Housing Group while Wavell House, in Cell Barnes Lane, is to be demolished and 24 homes built for the over 55s.
Betty Entwistle House, in Holyrood Crescent, has been demolished and transferred to housing association bpha which has built 40 homes for rent and shared ownership.
In another initiative, the Council has been building new homes on its little-used garage blocks across the District with 25 properties recently delivered in Batchwood and 23 in Sandridge.
An update on progress with Mereden Court is due to be given to a meeting of the Council’s Cabinet on Thursday 21 March.
Councillor Brian Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Inclusion, said:
Mereden Court will provide affordable Council homes of excellent quality to a range of people on our Housing Register.
This accommodation could attract tenants looking to downsize from larger Council homes, releasing those properties for families on the register.
The redevelopment of the site as well as other sheltered housing blocks shows the strength of our commitment to delivering new modern homes for people in the District who are in housing need.
(1) Subject to a signed agreement being reached on an s106 payment, a financial contribution to community infrastructure.
Councillor contact:
Councillor Brian Ellis,
Portfolio Holder for Housing and Inclusion for St Albans City and District Council.
Email: Cllr.B.Ellis@stalbans.gov.uk
Tel: 01727 866100
Councillor contact:
John McJannet,
Principal Communications Officer,
St Albans City and District Council.
E-mail: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk
Tel: 01727 296130