Affordable housing development gets underway in Warwickshire
Affordable housing developer, Vistry Group has started work on 122 affordable homes on a 7.4-acre site in Bedford.
Vistry Group was joined by partners from Midland Heart and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council (NBBC) to celebrate the start of the work at the former Bedworth Bowling and Rugby Club.
Phil McHugh, Vistry’s managing director for the North West Midlands, welcomed Joe Reeves, executive director of finance & growth at Midland Heart, the registered provider of affordable housing who will own and manage the properties on completion, and representatives from NBBC to the site to mark the milestone in the creation of new homes for the area.
The bowling greens were last used in 2020 and the rugby club vacated the site in 2017 when it moved to Nicholas Chamberlaine School.
Under section 106, the developer will provide £2.5m for local services, including £1.25m for floodlights and a new clubhouse for Bedworth Rugby Club at Nicholas Chamberlaine School, over £500,000 for leisure and parks, around £350,000 for education, over £100,000 for healthcare, and over £185,000 for transport.
Joe Reeves, executive director of finance & growth at Midland Heart, said: “Providing quality, affordable homes for local people is the primary focus of our organisation. We’re delighted that Jane and our partners could join us to celebrate the start of works on the site and hear our plans for its development.
“Housing associations like us play a key role in developing our communities, and we’re thrilled to be working with Phil and the team at Vistry to breathe new life into this area and deliver 122 much-needed, affordable homes.”
Jane Grant, assistant director of strategic housing at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, said: “We are looking forward to the delivery of much-needed affordable homes, homes that will be available for local people in housing need. NBBC greatly appreciates its partnerships with developers and housing associations who are committed to developing in our borough, supporting our affordable housing ambitions.”
