A multi-million-pound programme to revitalise communities and create dozens of affordable homes for people in Erewash has been officially launched by Three Valleys Housing (TVH).
A celebration event held at one of the sites at Town Street, Sandiacre, saw neighbourhood representatives and partners involved on the project come together to watch the ceremonial “first strike” of site clearance.
Up to 50 much-needed new homes could be available in the next few years - the first to be built since the Long Eaton-based housing association was established ten years ago.
The project will regenerate sites already owned by TVH that are currently empty or under occupied, including Town Street and nearby Hart Lea, breathing new life into neighbourhoods. The developments are likely to feature a mix of family homes, bungalows and flats. Attention will go into ensuring low running costs for tenants, by replacing outmoded and difficult-to-let properties, with high quality homes.
The investment programme follows the appointment of a new managing director, Sue Coulson, and TVH joining the East Midlands Housing Group last year. As part of this partnership, TVH has already taken on the management of 170 East Midlands Housing Association properties in Erewash, as well as initiating this new build project.
Sue said: “We want to replace outmoded and difficult-to-let properties with high quality homes that have low running costs and which suit people’s needs. This project will help to meet local demand for affordable homes, and it will create jobs and training opportunities for local people.”
TVH aims to work with contractors to ensure that local people benefit from the jobs created by the investment, and is looking at setting up a training scheme as part of the regeneration programme. The investment will also benefit local professional firms.
Three Valleys Housing has been involving residents in plans for the Town Street site from the start, with regular public consultations and information events held at nearby Sandiacre football club.
Demolition is due to last around 19 weeks, subject to planning permission, with a break over Christmas.
