Published: Tuesday 27th February 2018 | 3.35pm
Representatives from Cannock Chase Council and development partner, Keepmoat Homes celebrated the completion of the Moss Road Redevelopment Scheme in Cannock last week.
The £5.6 million redevelopment scheme in Chadsmoor was the result of a successful partnership between Cannock Chase Council and development partner Keepmoat Homes and has transformed an estate of 170 tired Reema1 flat properties into a mixed tenure of 141 new homes.
The scheme included the demolition of 170 Reema1 flat properties, which have been replaced by 141 new homes; 65 houses were built for the Council to let for affordable homes and 76 properties were sold on the open market.
Councillor Frank Allen Portfolio Leader for Housing said “We are delighted to have delivered the first new Council housing in over 25 years in Cannock, providing high quality family homes for the residents. I’m pleased we were able to provide a mixture of housing on the site, including two new wheelchair adapted properties which were very much in demand. The redevelopment has improved the area significantly. I can hardly believe how the estate used to look compared to now.”
The new Council houses were made possible through the Council’s Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme and funding from Homes England (formerly known as the Homes and Communities Agency) Affordable Homes Programme. The Council successfully bid for over £1M of grant to fund the circa £5.6M redevelopment scheme, providing the first new Council housing in Cannock for over 25 years.
The redevelopment is now near completion; Keepmoat are still onsite finishing works on the second play area which is due to complete in May.
In addition £200,000 estate improvement works to some of the existing flat areas will take place to enhance the physical environment and help blend in the older properties with the new, this work is due to be finished during the next couple of months.
The event was organised by Keepmoat Homes and involved Council members, senior officers, Keepmoat Homes and Homes England representatives taking a tour of the site.
Ben Cook, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes, said: “The re-generation project has been a huge success and we were delighted to work in partnership with Cannock Chase Council to transform Moss Road and replace the Reema properties with high quality, beautiful homes.
“We have also worked closely with the community throughout the scheme, providing site visits and work experience placements and hosting career advice sessions at Cannock Chase High School.
Two apprentices from the local area are now also working with Keepmoat homes full-time after being hired for the scheme.
It’s really important for us to not just build homes but to support the communities we work in and improve local people’s lives, which has all been part of the success at Moss Road.”
Caroline Cormack, Head of Home Ownership and Supply in the Midlands for Homes England, said: “Homes England is pleased to be providing funding to help transform housing in this area of Chadsmoor. This is an excellent example of our commitment to providing high quality affordable homes.”
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1 Reema was a type of pre-reinforced concrete construction method designated as defective under the Housing Act 1985. A structural survey in 2002 had found the properties had a limited life of some 10-15 years.