Affordable homes progress at Bath Riverside praised

Friday 4th November 2011

Photo: New resident Hannah Gordon outside her new home at Bath Riverside.

On 1 November 2011 the Chief Executive of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Pat Ritchie viewed one of 100 new affordable homes being built at the Bath Riverside site and praised progress on the project which is one of the biggest brown-field regeneration schemes in the South West.

During the tour, she heard about plans for the future phases of the regeneration project which, with a capital value of over £400m, could see a total of 500 affordable homes across the 70-acre site over the next 10 years, as well as the creation of new leisure and work spaces.

The HCA has invested more than £8m in the project which is being delivered as a partnership between Bath & North East Somerset Council, developer Crest Nicholson and social housing provider Somer Housing Group who are investing over £10m in the affordable homes.

The 100 affordable homes on the first phase of the site include a mixture of two- and three-bedroom apartments as well as a number of larger family houses, and will represent 35% of the total number of homes built during this first phase of development. They will form part of a comprehensive development, with infrastructure for up to 3,500 homes and new businesses which would create up to 2,000 jobs and provide a significant economic boost for the area.

"This is an important project for us because we know what a big difference it can make to local people and the wider area which will benefit from the development," said Pat Ritchie.

"It is encouraging that this scheme is progressing well and that is a tribute to the partners who have worked together and with local people to start what is a hugely exciting development for the area. I am really pleased to have been able to take the opportunity to meet the partners and see for myself how the development is progressing."

One of the first people to move into the new affordable homes will be legal administrator Hannah Gordon and her one-year-old daughter Bella (pictured). Hannah said: "I've lived in Bath all my life, renting a flat in central Bath for the last 10 years. Moving into this new two-bedroom house at Riverside will be great.

"The location will be fantastic for me - I work just across the road, my daughter's nursery is round the corner and my mum lives nearby too. I love the fresh look of the house, it has good sized rooms and will be a very safe space for my little girl. It's going to be perfect - a great start for my family."

Mike Grist, Director of Business Development at Somer Housing Group, said: "These new affordable homes at Bath Riverside are badly needed, with the average home in the area costing nearly 13 times the average income and recent figures suggesting that rents in Bath are the highest in the South West. It is rare to be able to able to offer not just apartments but also larger family houses so close to the city centre and we wish all our new and future residents well in these new homes."

Councillor Tim Ball, Bath & North East Somerset Council Cabinet Member for Homes and Planning, said: "Many homes in our local market are not affordable for many people in the community, for example lower paid key workers, and families with children, and the homes being built at Bath Riverside help address this situation.

"Recently designated as an area for economic growth by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, the project sits within the Bath City Riverside 'City of Ideas' Enterprise Area which will play a key role in bringing forward development to regenerate the local economy.

"There are a number of new Government funding opportunities that we are able to benefit from, and we are developing a plan called 'Planning, Developing and Financing the Future' to ensure that we take advantage of these opportunities to help deliver much needed employment space to enable local businesses to grow and thrive. An improved range of homes will encourage new businesses to bring their workforce here making it easier for us to attract investment that will result in more jobs and a prosperous economy."

Chris Tinker, Group Board Director of Crest Nicholson said: "Since acquiring the site in 2005 we have been working closely with Somer and our other development partners to ensure that Bath Riverside delivers a wide range of high quality housing accommodation for now and into the future. We are delighted that with the first 300 dwellings under construction we are now in a position to welcome the first of many residents into this vibrant new residential quarter being created within the heart of this beautiful city."

The majority of the 100 new affordable homes will be allocated according to housing need through Bath & North East Somerset Council's Homesearch scheme and will be let at low-cost rents. The remaining 36 Somer homes will be made available to buy through the housing association's shared ownership scheme which helps people to get a foot on the housing ladder by part-buying and part-renting their new home. All the homes will meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes which is a higher standard of sustainability than a traditionally built house.

Posted by 0 for Somer Housing Group Ltd.