New opportunities as 'golden brick' is laid at flagship new homes development in West Swindon

Swindon South MP Robert Buckland and senior figures from the GreenSquare housing group, Swindon Borough Council, and construction company Frank Haslam Milan joined young apprentices working on site to celebrate the start of a major new homes development in Westlea, Swindon.

Westlea Housing, part of the GreenSquare group, is delivering the flagship development of 70 new homes – being built on the site of the former Westlea police station, near GreenSquare's Swindon headquarters at Stonehill Green.

One of the apprentices working on the scheme, 18-year-old Dan Woodward, laid a specially-prepared 'golden brick' as part of the ceremony on Monday, 27 September.

The project is being built by construction company Frank Haslam Milan and is supported with an investment of £5.1 million from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

When complete, it will comprise 70 homes – a supported housing scheme of 20 self-contained flats; 40 new homes (15 flats and 25 houses) for affordable rent from Westlea Housing; and the 10 houses offered for 'intermediate rent', which enables tenants to save for a deposit on a new home whilst paying a reduced rent on the property.

The housing group says that its development is about investing in the local economy, enhancing the area, and delivering new opportunities for local people to live and work:

"We're proud to be delivering this fantastic development and of the new opportunities that it creates. Now that construction is underway, our 4ward2work scheme is ensuring that local people are being given the chance to undertake apprenticeships and gain really valuable work experience," said Ann Cornelius, Westlea Housing managing director.

"And as well as the homes for affordable rent, we're building other homes here – for rent at a reduced market rate to those who do not qualify for social rent homes but who, in this economic climate, cannot afford to buy a home of their own outright."

GreenSquare has worked with architects Avebury Projects – and in close liaison with the urban design officer at Swindon Borough Council – to agree a striking contemporary design for the new development.

"As well as looking great, the new homes will incorporate a range of eco-friendly energy-efficient features that will make them cheaper and more comfortable to live in," added Ann Cornelius.

The development is being built to meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard, and will feature: solar photovoltaic panels to produce electricity (and a 'feed in tariff' to reduce residents' power and lighting costs); ultra-efficient boilers managed by a 'smart metering' system to provide accurate billing remotely; whole-house passive ventilation systems with heat recovery; and highly-insulated building fabric to retain heat within the properties.

Colin Molton, HCA director with responsibility for investment in the South West, said: "We have invested substantially in this development, which will deliver high quality new homes and provide a range of ways for people to access them.

“The fact that this investment is also creating job and training opportunities demonstrates that creating successful communities is about more than building homes, important though this is. It’s about giving local people the tools they need to improve their communities through their skills and by working together. This is great news for Westlea and it’s good to see the apprentices take a part in the launch of this development.”

Cllr Brian Mattock, Swindon Borough Council cabinet member for Housing, Communities and Partnerships, said: “This site has been derelict for a number of years so it is great we are finally in a position to see this development taking shape. The affordable homes will be a big boost to people in Swindon.”

Fraser Mercer, managing director of contractors Frank Haslam Milan, said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with GreenSquare to provide these affordable, eco-friendly and energy-efficient homes for the people of Swindon."

Following the on-site ceremony at the former police station site, guests attended the formal opening of GreenSquare's customer reception at its Swindon headquarters at Barbury House in the Stonehill Green business park nearby.