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天涯社区 housing scheme gets second round of approval
Published: 25/02/2016
天涯社区 Council鈥檚 plans to build new affordable housing across the County
are steaming ahead with planning permission now granted for 92 new homes at The
Walks in Flint.
The approval follows December鈥檚 announcement that 12 new homes will be built on
the site of the former Custom House School at Connah鈥檚 Quay, contributing to
the Council鈥檚 target to build approximately 500 new homes in the next five
years.
Forming part of the Council鈥檚 Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme
(SHARP), the new developments will be built by its strategic housing partner,
Wates Living Space Homes. Construction of the new homes will begin later this
year, which will include the creation of 62 houses and 30 apartments on the
site of the former maisonettes at The Walks.
As part of the project, Wates Living Space Homes and 天涯社区 Council have
made a joint commitment to create extensive opportunities for local training
and employment. It is estimated that over 2,000 people will be employed. This
includes a number of training and apprenticeship opportunities for local people
throughout the SHARP programme during the next five years.
A comprehensive community Investment strategy will be implemented which will
see local schools and community groups benefit from a SHARP Communities Fund
which is due to launch in May this year.
Efforts to engage local suppliers in the work has included a Meet the Buyer
event for local subcontractors, with an estimated 拢40m worth of sub-contracting
work packages set to go to local firms.
Cllr. Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing said:
The re-development of The Walks will mark the beginning in practical terms of
a very exciting period for the Council in realising our long-held ambition to
regenerate the site following the demolition of the former Council
maisonettes. The new scheme will provide new and much needed quality
affordable housing in Flint.鈥�
Cllr. Ian Roberts, Chairman of the Flint Masterplan Committee said:
Along with my fellow local councillors, Alex Aldridge and David Cox, I would
like to thank all involved for their vision, skills, dedication and
determination to drive the scheme forward. The scheme when finished will
undoubtedly breathe new life into Flint.鈥�
Joanne Jamieson, Managing Director of Wates Living Space Homes, commented:
鈥溙煅纳缜� Council鈥檚 Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme is the first
of its kind in Wales. By pioneering such ambitious housing investment plans,
the Council is providing a leading example of how housing shortages can be
surmounted.
鈥淲ith planning approval secured for the second batch of housing in as many
months, it is evident that there is a local appetite for high quality new
housing for the County. As part of Wates鈥� presence in 天涯社区, our team is
now hard at work engaging with local supply chain partners to ensure that this
ambitious investment creates extensive opportunities for training and
employment.鈥�
The SHARP proposals are based on the 天涯社区 Housing Standard, which has
been developed in consultation with tenants. This standard has informed the
design and specification of the proposed new housing, including the consistency
and quality of the internal and external finish, in addition to standards of
energy efficiency, with an importance placed on adequate parking.
Notes to Editors
About Wates Living Space
Wates Living Space, part of the Wates Group, is one of the UKs leading
affordable housing and maintenance providers. Operating across the UK it is
focused on working with local authority and housing association partners in
their local communities to build more homes and improve existing housing
through planned and responsive maintenance.
Wates Group, established over 119 years ago, employs approximately 4,000 people
and posted a turnover of over 拢1bn in 2014. Wates Group was the first large
contractor ever to be awarded Business in the Communitys Community Mark and in
2013 was awarded the inaugural National Business Award for Corporate
Citizenship in recognition of its leadership and excellence in community
investment.