More Council homes delivered
More than 20 new homes have been built on two former garage sites by St Albans City and District Council.
The developments, in the village of Sandridge, are part of a Council initiative to create new houses on its under-used garage blocks across the District.
Eight new flats were built in Allen Green, St Leonards Crescent, and 15 homes were built in Morris Green, Langley Grove. The latter development includes two and three bedroom houses, flats of one or two bedrooms and 23 car parking spaces.
The properties have already been allocated to people in housing need who are on the Council’s housing register.
They were constructed to an environmentally-friendly design using sustainably-sourced timber frames, high-performance glazing and low energy lighting. Builder Willmott Dixon Construction was the contractor.
The developments are part of an ambitious £6 million regeneration project the Council has been working on as a priority project since 2013.
A number of garage sites that had fallen into disrepair were identified and earmarked for development into affordable homes.
The new homes in Morris Green were officially opened by the Mayor of St Albans City and District, Councillor Rosemary Farmer, on Thursday 31 January.
She said:
I was very impressed with the quality of both the design and the construction. These properties are modern, high quality and built to last.
The conversion of rundown and unsightly garage blocks across the District into affordable homes has been one of the most imaginative projects the Council has undertaken in recent years.
Councillor Brian Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Inclusion, said:
he regeneration of our old garage sites is a demonstration of our commitment to creating much-needed affordable housing for the District.
I am very pleased with the quality of the Sandridge properties and delighted that we are moving more people off the housing register and into new homes.
We have now made the first significant additions to our housing stock for three decades and we can be proud of that most worthwhile achievement.
Last summer, 25 affordable houses were built in the Batchwood area on three Council-owned garage sites that were no longer fit for purpose. Prior to that, 27 homes at eight garage sites were delivered.
The Council has also been developing 34 affordable homes at seven garage sites in partnership with local housing associations.
Ownership of those sites has been transferred to the associations, although all of the homes for rent will go to people on the housing register. A few of the homes were made available for shared ownership.
That will bring the total number of affordable homes built on former garage sites to 109.
Contact for the Mayor’s office:
Alison Orde,
the Mayor’s Civic Officer
Tel: 01727 819544
Email: mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk
Councillor contact:
Cllr Brian Ellis,
Portfolio Holder for Housing and Inclusion for St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01582 767621
Email: cllr.b.ellis@stalbans.gov.uk
Media contact:
John McJannet,
Principal Communications Officer,
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727-296130
Email: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk