Regeneration of Brooks Road

 

28.03.2006

 

Rona Nicholson, London Field Director at The Housing Corporation was in Newham last week to officially open the first phase of Community Housing Group’s regeneration scheme at Brooks Road.

Using the latest methods of modern construction Community Housing Group (CHG) are working alongside ROK Group and PRP Architects to provide a total of 188 mixed tenure homes on the East London site which had previously been occupied by tower blocks. Currently 82 units have been completed with the remaining due for completion in March 2007.

Drawing on local labour, the new properties will be finished to the highest standard with every effort being made to ensure that are as energy efficient and eco friendly as possible.

CHG has been at the forefront of implementing Modern Methods of Construction, getting involved in a number of groundbreaking schemes across London, including the Brooks Road development which has used Light Gauge Steel (LGS) in the building process to accelerate the construction period.

Working closely with the Newham NDC, CHG have consulted with many residents on the internal décor of their homes, while each home with a garden has a fruit tree as part of an ongoing ecology project. In addition CHG and the NDC have been able to provide a local doctors surgery to those living in and around the development.

The scheme is one of a series of joint ventures developed since CHG was awarded preferred partner status by London Borough of Newham in 2002 and strengthens their ongoing partnership with the borough, Newham NDC and the Housing Corporation.

CHG’s Chief Executive Mick Sweeney said “This is an excellent example of working in partnership to redevelop a previously run down area by providing high quality affordable housing and long term investment in the local community. The Brooks Road scheme offers a good benchmark against which to measure our future achievements.”

Rona Nicholson, London Regional Director of the Housing Corporation said: "The regeneration of the Brooks Road estate in Plaistow and the redevelopment of the 1960s tower blocks that stood here previously show the real difference that Housing Corporation funding can make in a local area. The partnership approach to the redevelopment of the area and the commitment shown to creating a mixed and sustainable community mean that this new development will make a difference, not just to the people who live here, but to everyone in the area".

For further information please contact Claire Guest on: 020 74281141 or email cguest@communityhousing.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITOR

  1. 1. Community Housing Group (CHG) was formally known as Community Housing Association. CHG is a registered social landlord based in Camden and provides over 4000 affordable rented homes across inner city areas of London.

  2. 2. The completed Brooks Road Scheme will have had £10,840,802 funding from the Housing Corporation. This funding will help CHG achieve development of 188 new homes for general needs, low cost home ownership and homes for key-workers.

  3. 3. In London, the Housing Corporation made new allocations at the start of the 2004-06 funding period for grants in Newham totalling over £88 million, producing 1,214 new affordable homes. Data taken from the 2004/06 Allocation Statement for London, available from www.housingcorp.gov.uk

  4. 4. The Housing Corporation is the Government agency responsible for regulating and investing in over 1,500 housing associations in England. Its biggest ever investment programme of £3.3 billion for 2004-06 will fund over 67,000 affordable homes. 16,000 of these will go to key workers and 25% will use some form of modern method of construction (for example, light gauge steel framework is a form of modern method of construction which has been used in the construction of Brooks Road). More information is available from www.housingcorp.gov.uk