Council completes fourteen new sustainable homes for social rent in St Albans
A new development of family sized, social rent homes in St Albans has been completed with the tenants due to move in before Christmas.
St Albans City and District Council built the properties in the Cottonmill area of the City, on the site of what was formerly poor-quality temporary accommodation in Norman Close and the now demolished King Offa pub.
The 14-home development includes 11 three-bedroom homes, two four-bedroom homes and a two-bedroom, wheelchair-adapted bungalow with height-adjustable kitchen worktops amongst the accessible-living features.
All the properties will be allocated at social rent to families on St Albans Council’s housing register, many of whom will have been living in overcrowded one and two-bedroom social homes. These one and two-bedroom homes will then become available for those also waiting on the housing register.
The project was completed by building firm Neilcott Construction and was funded through the Council’s housing revenue account using some right-to-buy receipts.
In keeping with the Council’s commitment to sustainable living and reducing emissions that are damaging to the environment and health, the properties were fitted with energy efficient features. These include extensive insulation and air source heat pumps as an alternative to gas.
Infrastructure for electric vehicle charging has also been incorporated, with the charging points to be installed when needed, as electric vehicle usage increases.
The gardens have been planted with trees to improve the biodiversity of the whole area. Swift and bat boxes alongside hedgehog highways will further help nature.
Councillor Simon Johns, Lead for Housing, visited the development with Councillor Jacqui Taylor, Lead for Sustainability and Councillor Paul de Kort, the Council Leader.
Cllr Johns said: “I am delighted that this priority development has now been completed and we have delivered another 14 social rent homes.
“One of our key priorities as a Council is to provide more high-quality social housing and this development is a bricks-and-mortar demonstration of that commitment.
“It is wonderful news that the new tenants will be moving in before Christmas and can look forward to an extra special festive season as a result.”
Councillor Taylor: “It has been very exciting to view these much-needed new family homes that have been built to a very high standard.
“As the Council’s previous Lead for Housing and now Sustainability, I have been involved in this project from the start and it is marvellous to see it come to fruition.
“The site has been completely transformed – it is quite amazing to see how different it is with the ageing portakabin-style temporary units replaced with permanent Council homes that are highly sustainable and built to last.
“It has always been important to us to deliver new homes that are good quality and sustainable so tenants benefit from lower energy bills”
Photos: top, from left, Cllr de Kort, Mark Doyle, Neilcott Construction’s Regional Director, Cllr Johns and Cllr Taylor at the development. Below pics include: Cllrs Taylor and Johns look round the adapted bungalow; Cllrs Taylor and de Kort examine the air source heat pump; the site before and after its transformation.
Media Contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, 01727 819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk