Pictured above: (l-r) Penny Baker, Sheffield City
Council's Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Regeneration,
Cllr Denise Fox, Sheffield City Council, Stephen Fisher, business
development manager, William Davis Ltd, Ian Clyde, Head of
Development (Central) Home Group and Sarah Coutts, Investment and
Regeneration Officer, HCA, turn the first sod at the latest phase
of the regeneration of the Weaklands neighbourhood which forms part
of the SWaN area of Sheffield
Project partners working in the Weakland neighbourhood in South
East Sheffield, had their spades at the ready recently, to mark the
commencement of the next phase of a major regeneration project in
the City.
Loughborough-based contractor and developer William Davis Ltd,
affordable housing provider Home Group, Sheffield City Council and
the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), joined together to mark the
first soil to be turned on the £6m affordable housing scheme,
which forms part of the £135m SWaN neighbourhoods.
The new homes, built on the site of previously demolished,
unsustainable, 1960's prefabricated homes on Weakland Crescent
will, when complete create 54 two, three and four bed high quality
new homes.
Richard Cornes, partnership director, William Davis Ltd said:
"Following the success of the first phase of new homes on the
Weakland estate, we are thrilled to be here again to mark the next
stage of this incredibly important regeneration programme.
"The transformation that has already taken place is testament to
the dedication of the project partners, who are committed to
providing SWaN residents with quality homes that meet and indeed
exceed both today's housing requirement and their own
expectations."
Home is committed to the ongoing development of the SWaN area
with the Scowerdons and Weakland phases incorporating 160 new homes
and an investment of £34.2 million. The schemes
committed to at present will ultimately provide 259 homes by the
latter half of 2012.
Ian Clyde, head of development (Central) Home Group said: "Here
at Home Group we've consulted extensively with residents at each
step of the way resulting in fantastic homes that people really
want to live in - many with stunning views of the countryside."
Councillor Penny Baker, Sheffield City Council's cabinet member
for housing, planning and regeneration said: "I am delighted
to see more new homes being built in this part of the city. The
area has lovely open countryside close by and yet is well connected
to the city centre by bus and tram. We have been working
closely with local residents over the years to provide a better mix
and range of houses and to ensure that the area is attractive to
new residents too."
Sarah Coutts, investment and regeneration officer, HCA said:
"Our continued investment in the redevelopment of SWaN will make a
real change for residents in the local community. These 160 new
homes will ensure that people can afford to live in the
neighbourhood of their choice".
When complete in December 2011, Weakland phase two, designed by
Sheffield-based architects AA Design in consultation with residents
and the local authority, will provide a mix of homes for outright
sale, shared ownership and social rent.
The new properties will be built to Code for Sustainable Homes
level 3, comprising solar hot water and a SUDS system (*Sustainable
Urban Drainage Scheme) which will help to reduce energy costs for
the future residents.
* SUDS - The role of best management practices in alleviating
water quality problems associated with diffuse pollution.