Nuplace exceeding expectations
Telford & Wrekin Council’s Housing Investment Programme, which is building homes for private and affordable rent, is already exceeding expectations just two years since it started.
Work on The Oaklands site in Dawley is continuing, with four properties already complete and let ahead of schedule. Work is also progressing on three further sites at Miner’s Walk in Madeley, Blossom Walk in Hadley and Springfields in Newport, which will bring the total number of Nuplace rental homes to 290 of which 34 are for affordable rent.
- Raising the standard of homes for private rent both in terms of the quality of the homes and the landlord service:
Of the 45 properties where the tenancy agreement has come up for renewal, 30 tenants have renewed their tenancy with the remaining 15 having been re-let.
At The Oaklands and Miners Walk more than half of their plots have already been reserved off plan.
- Creating new jobs and providing a boost to the local economy during both the construction and operational phases of the programme;
This has been, and continues to be, one of the key drivers for the programme.
Nuplace and appointed contractor, Lovell Partnerships Ltd have been working hard to develop a local supply chain with over 14 Borough based contractors and suppliers having been employed on the schemes to date.
The investment made via the construction contracts on each of these sites is estimated to have generated £77.7m into the local economy.
Other, added value delivered to date or in the pipeline includes work with Town & Parish Councils to support community projects as well as visits to primary and secondary schools and colleges across the borough.
Nuplace, alongside Lovell have been working alongside the Job Centre to offer education and training opportunities and have so far provided 40 weeks of work placements, 216 weeks apprenticeship training and 33 weeks of graduate training.
- Regenerating brownfield and stalled sites
When the first 290 homes are complete, the programme will have successfully brought 20 acres of brownfield land back into use. Many of the development sites have been stalled for some considerable time and had become a blight on local communities as well as being the focus for antisocial behaviour.
In addition, Nuplace is generating a long term income stream for the Council to help protect frontline services from deeper cuts and is already generating a profit for the Council.
Councillor Richard Overton, cabinet member for Housing, said: “Nuplace is already exceeding our expectations and delivering such great results for the borough, its tenants and the Council.
“We know we’re building homes that people want to live in and this is clear from the fact that all of our properties are let and that many of those still being built have been reserved already.
“We’re also pleased that Nuplace is helping to contribute to our growing our local economy, through investment and job creation. The programme is also helping to regenerate acres of brownfield land that has stood empty for years while returning a profit.
“We’re excited to see how Nuplace will continue to fulfil these aims, as additional phases come online.”
