North West Leicestershire District Council is building council homes for the first time in 26 years, providing much needed affordable housing for local people.
The 24 houses and bungalows will be built on council-owned sites at Linford Crescent and Verdon Crescent in Coalville and on the Willesley Estate in Ashby de la Zouch.
The council’s contractor, Robert Woodhead Ltd, has now started on site in Coalville, with the first homes expected to be ready for new tenants by the autumn. All of the homes will be available for affordable rent and were funded solely from the council’s existing housing budget. Robert Woodhead Limited’s specialist housing team Woodhead Living will be delivering the project.
The largest site at Coalville was unlocked for development after the authority built and opened a brand new community building on land where disused garages had previously stood. This was handed over to the local Tenants and Residents Association in January 2017, enabling the demolition of an empty sheltered housing block that previously housed a community facility for the area.
Councillor Roger Bayliss, Portfolio Holder for Housing at North West Leicestershire District Council, said: “The council is building much needed affordable housing again, which represents a landmark for us. We have planned and consulted carefully and are now in a strong position to move forward with increasing our housing stock for local people in North West Leicestershire.
“We’re not the first local authority to start building again, and I hope we won’t be the last. We strongly believe in investing in our communities and making our district a place that people are proud to call home.”
The programme of works was procured through a regional consortium of public sector bodies, EEM Ltd, of which North West Leicestershire is a member.
Craig Pygall, Construction Director for Robert Woodhead Ltd, said: “We’re delighted to have been appointed through the EEM New Build framework and to be a part of such an important programme for North West Leicestershire District Council.
“We’re very keen to ensure the work we do is not only of a high standard, but something that will be remembered, not just for the bricks and mortar, but for the impact our work can have on the local community.
“We will always look to support the local community while we’re on site, working with nearby schools and colleges to offer work experience opportunities, as well as working with as many local sub contractors as possible to ensure the council’s investment will also support the local economy.”
Hilary Prime, Chair of the Tenant’s and Resident’s Association, said: “We are all so grateful to North West Leicestershire District Council for providing the new community centre, which we helped to design and fit out. It is a great place where we can meet as a group and promote all our community activities.”