Five disused garage sites on the Britwell Estate in Slough
have been transformed to provide high-quality affordable new homes.
The six new family homes, which will provide accommodation
for up to 37 residents, were unveiled at an event on Monksfield Way on 2
February attended by local MP Fiona Mactaggart.
Sovereign Housing Association, working closely with Slough
Borough Council, has completed the construction of four detached and two
semi-detached houses across five sites on the estate: Cecil Way, Wentworth
Avenue, Rokesby Road and on two garage courts on Monksfield Way.
“Local surveys showed that by far the greatest housing
need in Slough was for larger family
homes to help accommodate extended families,” explained Roger Keeling,
Sovereign’s Regional Development Manager. “These three- and four-bedroom houses
for general needs rent are able to accommodate up to 37 residents, and so will
have a positive impact on housing waiting lists in the borough.”
The scheme cost a total of £1.1 million, of which £444,000
came from the Homes and Communities Agency, £70,000 from SBC and the remainder
from Sovereign. Construction was carried out by R J Leighfield & Sons, who
faced the challenging task of providing six high quality properties on five
separate sites.
The garages are typical of the lock-ups that were built in
courtyards on the Britwell estate in the 1950s. Many had fallen into disrepair
and residents had become increasingly reluctant to use them.
“Sovereign’s aim is to provide affordable homes to people
who need them. We were keen to support Slough Borough Council’s priority of
maximising the supply of affordable housing, especially on brown field sites,”
Keeling said. “Given the limited amount of land available for housing
developments in the town, it’s important to make use of underutilised sites like
these.”
The homes have
been built to a high standard with gas central heating, double glazing and
solar panels to assist with hot water provision. The houses meet Level 3 of the
Code for Sustainable Homes and are built to Lifetime Homes
standards, meaning they can be easily adapted to meet the residents’ needs.
Councillor James Swindlehurst, Commissioner for Neighbourhoods
and Renewal with Slough Borough Council, said: “This is yet another example of
quality family homes being provided by one of our social housing partners in
collaboration with the council.
“With demand for affordable housing continuing to
increase, the council is committed to doing everything it can to increase
supply, and the garage strategy is a great way to do this. Before being redeveloped
these sites are not only underused but attract anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping.
Since 2008 the council has delivered around 100 homes through the garage
strategy, often larger than are provided in standard private developments, which
fills a gap in supply to house larger families in the borough.”
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