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Refurbishment of Gypsy and Traveller site enters new exciting phase
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| Saturday 23rd July 2011 |
Work on the redevelopment of the Gypsy and Traveller site at Houndsfield Lane, Wythall has entered an exciting new phase with the delivery and installation of 12 new living 'pods'.
The new units are factory-built using modular off-site construction methods and delivered in virtually-complete fashion. The units come with a pre-fitted kitchen, bathroom and all internal fitting. They only require rendering, roof finishes and flooring once installed.
The old buildings on-site had no living area and just a very small kitchen and bathroom. The addition of the living area is a great improvement for the residents as they no longer have to cook in the building, then dash, dinner in hand in all weathers to their caravan to eat.
Tony Henderson, Gypsy and Traveller Project Manager at Rooftop Housing Group said: "It is not widely known that many Roma caravans do not have a kitchen or bathroom as people prefer to keep cooking and bathing areas separate from living and sleeping areas. Therefore, Houndsfield Lane provides each resident with a pitch to site their caravan on and a building providing a kitchen and bathroom."
There will eventually be 23 new pods on the site, with completion due by the end of September. The site has been in existence since 1964 and currently acts as a base for 18 Traveller families who sleep in their caravans but require more permanent living accommodation. The new units all have DDA accessibility that includes wider doorways, ramped access, grab rails and wet rooms to be ready to accommodate an ever-aging community.
In 2010 Rooftop took over ownership and management of the site from Bromsgrove District Council and Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT) and shortly after EPHA secured £999,600 of grant aid from the Homes and Communities Agency with which to refurbish the existing units.
All of the permanent pitches are occupied, and the make up of those households is the same as in the settled community: couples with children, older couples, single people and lone parents. Worcestershire has a large Gypsy and Traveller population and it accounts for the largest single BME (Black Minority Ethnic) group within the county.
A 'visible' approach to site management is undertaken with three afternoon visits taking place each week and others as required. This approach, alongside regular consultation with people, has seen the establishment of an excellent rapport between Rooftop staff and the residents of the site.
Tony Henderson added: "We believe that our visible approach is not only key to being able to build rapport and engage effectively with those on site, but also to liaise and communicate openly with local residents and to be a known point of contact for all people that may have any dealings with the site or its residents."
The designs for the new buildings were drawn together by architects at The Space Studio, working closely with and consulting residents on the site. The designs produced are bold, contemporary and Rooftop are delivering a modern, revitalised Gypsy and Traveller site that looks like no other. |
| Posted by 0 for Rooftop Housing Group |
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