Housing Plus Group has celebrated the completion of a new development of homes for affordable rent and shared ownership in Stafford. The construction of 23 houses and apartments in Wheeldon Close, off Sandon Road, has revitalised a prominent site on the edge of the town centre.
Regeneration of the brownfield site has delivered 15 one and two-bedroomed apartments and eight three-bedroomed homes, including shared ownership properties which are helping buyers get onto the first rung of the housing ladder in an increasingly challenging market.
Designed and built to meet local housing need, the development’s roots in the community were cemented when it was officially named by pupils at nearby John Wheeldon Primary Academy. The children chose to honour a former head teacher at their school who went on to become mayor of Stafford.
Housing Plus Group Chief executive Sarah Boden visited Wheeldon Close shortly before the site was handed over in readiness for the first residents to move into their new homes this month. She emphasised its importance to the community: “I believe very strongly in the transformative power of housing not only to change lives but to revitalise locations like this, close to the town centre. These homes are bringing people and families into the area, sustaining local facilities and helping shops and businesses to thrive,” she said.
Housing Plus Group partnered with Midlands-based construction firm Markden Homes on the project, which was administered by employer’s agent Wilkinson Cowan. The site takes the Group a step closer towards meeting our target of building 2,000 new homes for rent, shared ownership and outright sale across our operational area in Staffordshire and Shropshire.
“I am looking forward to our next milestone on our way towards delivering our ambitious home building objective with the opening of nearby Wren House, which is providing 80 new apartments for affordable rent for people aged 55-plus. As a locally based Group we are proud to invest in Stafford and its people,” added Sarah Boden.
Photo caption: (L-r) William Ellis, Director of construction services, Markden Homes Mark Ellis, Managing director Markden Homes, Sarah Boden, Chief executive Housing Plus Group, Charlotte Cartlidge, Project manager Housing Plus Group and Kerry Bolister, Director of development Housing Plus Group.