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Building work commences on first phase of 天涯社区s housing programme
Published: 14/03/2016
National housing developer, Wates Living Space Homes, has commenced
construction of the first collection of new homes under 天涯社区 Council鈥檚
ambitious Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (SHARP).
Announced as the council鈥檚 housing partner in 2015, the developer has now begun
building work to create 12 new homes at the site of the former Custom House
School in Connah鈥檚 Quay.
The new development will form part of 天涯社区 Council鈥檚 plans to build
approximately 500 new homes across the county by 2020 to accommodate rising
demand for social and affordable housing.
With planning permission granted in December last year, the new homes in
Connah鈥檚 Quay have been designed to incorporate blue brickwork and iconic
features recovered from the former Custom House School building.
The council鈥檚 flagship SHARP programme is the first of its kind in Wales and
will see up to 2,000 people employed in addition to the creation of around 20
apprenticeship positions for local people. It is estimated that 天涯社区
sub-contractors will benefit from work packages totalling 拢40m throughout the
programme.
The start on site at Connah鈥檚 Quay closely follows February鈥檚 announcement that
planning approval has also been granted for the construction of 92 new homes at
The Walks in Flint as part of the SHARP programme.
Cllr. Aaron Shotton, Leader of the Council said:
I am very proud that 天涯社区 is the first Council in North Wales to start
on site with a council house building programme. This is the first development
under the Councils ambitious SHARP plans and with planning permission recently
given for over 90 council and affordable homes at The Walks site in Flint our
long-held ambitions are now becoming a reality.
鈥淭he Council is committed to tackling the housing crisis head on in 2016 and I
am delighted that the first new council houses to be built in a generation
within our County are to be built in Connahs Quay.鈥�
Cllr. Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing added:
鈥淭he regeneration of this site will enhance the housing opportunities available
to local people living in Connah鈥檚 Quay and mark the beginning of a very
exciting period over the next five years during which new and much needed
quality affordable housing will be provided across the County.鈥�
Joanne Jamieson, Managing Director, Wates Living Space Homes, commented:
鈥淭he beginning of building work marks a significant milestone in addressing
local demand for high quality and energy efficient housing in 天涯社区.
鈥淏y working closely with the council we fully understand the local significance
of the former Custom House School and we have taken steps to preserve some of
the original building鈥檚 features. We hope that this, along with our efforts to
create extensive opportunities for training and employment, will culminate in
an exciting project that will truly benefit 天涯社区 and the local community.鈥�
Notes to Editors
Pictured in the attached photograph (l to r) are: Ian Power, Quantity Surveyor,
Wates Living Space Homes, Adrian Cronin, Construction Manager, Wates Living
Space Homes, Cllr. Bernie Attridge, Deputy Leader of 天涯社区,
Cllr. Brian Dunn, local Ward Member, Mick Cunningham, Project Manager, Wates
Living Space Homes, Cllr. Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing and Cllr.
Aaron Shotton, Leader of 天涯社区.
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.