Council fast-tracks new homes

Thirty-five affordable homes could be built by St Albans City and District Council using a method that will save time and money.

The Council is considering constructing the properties using the Scape framework. That is a way for public bodies to keep costs down and reduce the amount of time-consuming procedures required.

Planning permission has already been obtained to build 25 homes on three Council owned garage sites in the Batchwood area.

The homes will be allocated to people on the Council’s Housing Register. It is the biggest development of homes built by the Council in St Albans for more than 20 years.

In addition, a planning application will soon be made to create ten homes on the site of the Museum of St Albans, in Hatfield Road, which closed last month.

A meeting of the Council’s Cabinet on Thursday 20 October is due to look at the benefits of using the Scape framework.

Scape Group, which devised the method, is a public sector organisation founded in 2006 that is committed to delivering high-quality buildings in a cost-effective fashion.

It allows local authorities to call on the services of pre-approved private sector firms. The process of purchasing supplies is also simplified.

The main builder is also committed to using locally-based sub-contractors and providing training to local people where possible. 

Scape Group has worked with more than 500 public bodies and completed over 2,000 projects with 95% finished in time and 99% on budget.

The two housing projects will each cost more than £2 million. Both are scheduled to be completed in 2017.

Both the Council’s Batchwood and Cotlandswick leisure centres were built using the Scape framework.

Councillor Brian Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Housing for St Albans City and District Council, said: “Scape is a method that we are familiar with and might be right for these projects.

“It helps us to build these houses quicker than we can do otherwise and helps us keep costs down.

“Scape can also provide additional benefits to the community. The contractors will be committed to using the local workforce where possible and offering training opportunities.”

Councillor contact:

Councillor Brian Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Housing for St Albans City and District Council.

Email: Cll.B.Ellis@stalbans.gov.uk

Tel: 01582-767621

Councillor contact:

John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council.

E-mail: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk

Tel: 01727 296130