Work on new affordable housing developments underway
St Albans City and District Council is developing 10 under-utilised garage sites and vacant land into 79 affordable new homes for people on its housing register to rent. These add to the 10 affordable homes that have already been delivered on three former Council-owned garage sites.
The Council is also working to turn four sheltered housing schemes into modern affordable homes for rent by people of all ages and needs. It has already refurbished four other sheltered housing schemes in the District,
in association with housing associations.
Cllr Brian Ellis, Housing Portfolio Holder for St Albans City and District Council, said: “The Council is actively pursuing a strategy to convert under-utilised garage sites into new social housing for rent and to refurbish its sheltered housing schemes. The aim is to provide much-needed modern affordable homes for people on the Council’s housing register to rent. A number of the projects have or are about to be completed and others are coming on stream. This is an exciting initiative that is making a real difference to the provision of good quality social housing in the District.”
At a meeting on Thursday 25 June, Cabinet received a progress report on current garage and sheltered housing scheme redevelopments.
Land at Alexander Road in London Colney and a garage site in Offas Way, Wheathampstead have been used to provide nine new homes, just
completed this month. In addition, four homes are currently being built on a former garage site in Cotlandswick, London Colney.
The Council is also planning to transfer three further former garage sites in London Colney on which North Hertfordshire Homes will build 18 homes.
Ground surveys have been carried out on three further garage sites in Batchwood that will provide 25 homes. We are also due to submit planning
applications in July to develop two former garages sites in Sandridge giving 23 homes.
In addition, work is progressing on the refurbishment of the following sheltered housing schemes:
• Parkside View (formerly known as Caroline Sharpe House), Chiltern Road, Marshalswick is due to complete at the end of July. It is being
developed by North Hertfordshire Homes and will provide 35 flats for social rent by people with extra care needs.
• Sparrow Court (formerly known as Thomas Sparrow House), Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead is due to complete in August. It is being
refurbished by the Council and will provide 13 flats for social rent by people aged over 55 years.
• Choristers Court (formerly known as Victor Smith Court), Hunters Ride, Bricket Wood is due for completion in February 2016. It is being
developed by North Hertfordshire Homes and will provide 18 one and two bedroom flats for social rent.
• Betty Entwistle House, Holyrood Crescent, St Albans is being redeveloped by housing association bpha. It will provide 41 homes for for
people who are either aged 55 years and above, or who are younger and physically disabled. A planning application will be submitted later
this year with development expected to start in 2016.
The Council has already worked with housing associations to provide:
• 34 one bedroom flats for older people at Rosewood Court (formerly known as Eric Steele House), Bricket Wood, St Albans.
• 18 one and two bedroom flats at Fielding Place (formerly known as Laelia House), St Albans for people of all ages and needs on the
housing register.
• 16 one and two bedroom flats at Jasmine Court (formerly known as The Grange), Colney Heath for people of all ages and needs on the
housing register.
• the District’s first affordable flexi-care scheme with 22 flats for rent and 16 flats for shared ownership at Lea Springs (formerly known as
Leacroft) at Harpenden.
The Cabinet meeting on Thursday 25 June was webcast and can be watched on the Council’s website. (Please contact Democratic Services if you would like to see this webcast: DemocraticServices@stalbans.gov.uk) The papers for the meeting are also available online.
Councillor contact:
Cllr Brian Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Housing at St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01582 767621
Email: cllr.b.ellis@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media:
Amanda Wilkinson,
Media and Internal Communications Officer
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819317
E-mail: amanda.wilkinson@stalbans.gov.uk
www.stalbans.gov.uk
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