Board members of Penwith Housing Association (PHA) saw at first hand the progress being made on a new development of purpose built flats for older people in St Ives during a recent site visit.
As part of a tour of several projects currently being developed by PHA, part of Devon & Cornwall Housing group, the 15 board members stopped by the Meadow Flats development, which is currently being constructed by the Leadbitter Group.
Meadow Flats will create twenty-six modern homes to replace the twenty flats in three separate two-story blocks which stood on a very steeply sloping site overlooking Porthmeor beach since the 1950s. The development has been designed specifically for older people and includes a 13-person passenger lift, a stair-lift and communal lounge facilities, together with thoughtfully-designed layouts and features to assist with daily living. Three of the flats are specifically designed for wheelchair use.
The homes will have under-floor heating provided by sustainable energy and the apartment block will feature a sedum roof to increase biodiversity in the area.
The Meadow Flats project will also create a site for Tate St Ives to develop its complementary plans to extend and improve the gallery. Leadbitter is currently assisting the gallery with preliminary works for the planned extension.
Alan Shepherd, chair of board, PHA, said: “It is heartening to see this major redevelopment project taking shape after so much hard work by so many people, including our residents, our staff and our partners, including St Ives Town Council, Cornwall Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and the Tate St Ives.
“Our contractors, Leadbitter, are progressing well and I am confident that this will be a scheme that everyone will be proud of, providing new high-quality homes for people who need them.”
Charlie Scherer, Regional Director of Leadbitter’s West and Wales Housing division, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the PHA board members to site. With the concrete structure nearing completion, blockwork and external services installation under way and the fitting of the Cornish natural stone facing about to begin, the development is taking shape, and our visitors can really begin to see that Meadow Flats will be an outstanding place for older St Ives residents to live.”
Cornwall Council is providing funding, and the Homes and Communities Agency is investing £1.25 million in the scheme.
PHA has worked closely with partners, including a resident advisory group, the Town Council and Cornwall Council members to design a scheme with enhanced facilities and features. It will meet identified local needs and will improve the quality of life for residents and the wider community in an area which is dominated by second homes.
In addition to working with PHA to host a community open day and a sod cutting ceremony, Leadbitter has also reached out to nearby St IA Primary School in Carbis Bay as part of its commitment to community engagement. The company offered its bespoke Safe Play At All Times (SPLAAT) presentation to educate the pupils about the dangers of construction sites, along with a competition to design safety posters to appear on the construction site hoardings, and they also helped the school build new steps to its garden area.
