First tenants move in to £18.2m housing scheme

Midland Heart’s new £18.2m housing development on Old Saffron Lane, Leicester has welcomed its first tenants.

Built on the site of the disused St Mary’s allotments at Aylestone, the development will eventually provide 125 homes of mixed types, sizes and tenures, including 51 at affordable rent and 36 for shared ownership.

The first batch of completed properties have just been handed over with further units scheduled for release later this month.

Joe Reeves, executive director of growth and corporate affairs, Midland Heart, said: “This is part of our trio of developments with Westleigh Partnerships Ltd which together represent a £58m investment to build almost 400 much-needed homes in Leicester as well as regenerate disused land.

“The St Mary’s allotment development is interesting as properties are being finished to a higher environmental standard and we have been keen to pay tribute to the area’s horticultural heritage with streets named after varieties of potato. Further, as part of the scheme, Leicester City Council is creating a new public open space with a grassed area for ball games and trees for the community’s enjoyment.”

Gary Turner, partnerships and investments director for Westleigh, said: “We are delighted to welcome the first residents to the affordable homes at our St Mary’s Road development.

“These homes are going some way towards addressing the shortage of affordable properties in the local area.

“Special thanks go to our partners at both Midland Heart and Leicester City Council, who have been instrumental in helping us make the scheme a reality.”

The other developments are at Wolsey Island – known locally as Sock Island after the hosiery factory that once stood there – and on Green Lane Road.

The 125 homes at St Mary’s site comprise one, two, three and four bedroomed houses and flats.