Pictured above: Lynn Wassell, project director for Whitefriars Housing Group and Martin Smith, Chair of the Regeneration Action Group and resident.

Residents in north east Coventry got a glimpse of their future through a 3D model of the first phase of new homes in the £360m redevelopment of Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore.   

The consultation event, which presented the proposed detailed plans for the first phase of building brought the scheme to life for local residents by giving them a 3D idea of how the new homes will look.  Also at the event were plans detailing house types, road layouts, play areas and landscape and green space improvements, as well as the new environmentally-friendly district heating proposals. 

More than 100 residents went to the drop-in style event, which was hosted by architects Broadway Malyan and engineers White Young Green and held at Whitefriars' regeneration office on Hillmorton Road, Wood End.  

Experts from the regeneration partnership including Whitefriars Housing Group, Coventry New Deal for Communities (NDC), Coventry City Council and developers Keepmoat Homes, Bovis Homes and Westbury Partnerships all attended to answer residents' questions about the scheme or their home first-hand.

The massive regeneration of the NDC area will see more than 3,000 new homes built over 15 years. The scale of the programme has seen the area divided into a number of phases, with work on the first 150 homes, which includes the area around Deedmore School and Monkswood Crescent, set to start in May 2010.

Chair of the Regeneration Action Group and resident Martin Smith, said: "I was very pleased with the model and plans, particularly the detailed design of the housing. It was exciting to see how the new homes might look and it felt like the development is really happening. I had a few questions when I arrived but now I feel reassured that everything is well covered."

Lynn Wassell, project director for Whitefriars Housing Group, who is leading the work on behalf of Whitefriars, Coventry City Council and NDC, said: "We're committed to involving residents at every stage of the planning process. Events such as these are really important so that residents are fully consulted upon what's proposed and can talk to us face-to-face. 

"We've also already door-knocked more than 2,000 homes in the area to answer residents' questions and will visit every household affected by the early part of the development with re-housing options and choices so that residents are fully supported as they move out of the area in preparation for the building work to begin. 

"The scheme is one of the most radical, transformational housing regeneration projects of its kind in the country and will have a huge impact on improving the lives and homes of people who live and work in the area. Reaching the stage where people can really see the difference it will make in 3D is a huge milestone. 

"Thank you to all the residents who have given their time to help us reach this stage."

The consultation event will lead to the submission of a detailed planning application for the first 150 homes in October. A further event to inform residents about plans for the next 460 homes and display a computer-generated drive-through model of the first phase of development will be held on November 3.

The regeneration project is supported by the Homes and Communities Agency and Advantage West Midlands. 

Whitefriars owns and manages more than 2,000 homes in the NDC area. The first homes are due to be completed in October 2010.