Member Article

Two Castles' begin work on Cumbrian affordable housing

Work has started on an affordable housing scheme in Whitehaven, Cumbria, as part of a partnership between Two Castles Housing Association and Kells Development Group.

The two organisations have undertaken the project with support from Copeland Borough Council and expect to finish 16 homes for rent by the end of August 2013.

Two Castles’ scheme is part of Kells Development Group’s renovation of the Old White School site into a mixed housing development on South Row, and will be called Halloways Grove on completion.

Rob Brittain, property services director at Two Castles Housing Association, said:

“We’re pleased that construction work is now underway to deliver an important new affordable housing scheme in Whitehaven.

“There continues to be a real demand for quality housing to rent in the area and we are committed to working with our partners to deliver a range of high quality affordable homes that meet the needs of local people and their families.

“This scheme will benefit those in the greatest housing need and will also form part of the overall transformation of the Old White School site bringing it back into community life.”

Graeme Morton at Kells Development Group, added: “The scheme is the result of many years work by local residents to develop the site with an objective to benefit the Kells community by providing high specification homes.

“To retain close links to the area’s mining heritage, the estate consists of three roads all named after underground mining drifts and coal faces at the nearby Haig Colliery: these are ‘Colliers Way’, ‘Jollows Close’ and ‘Halloways Grove’.

“The scheme also has the added bonus that all works are carried out using local labour, which brings further financial benefit to the local economy.”

Councillor George Clements, portfolio holder for housing and planning, also commented: “We are delighted that Two Castles and Kells Development Group are undertaking this development in Whitehaven.

“We are proud to have facilitated the project by specifying the need for part of the site to be dedicated to affordable homes when we sold it to Kells Development Group and this was reflected in the value of the site.

“We have a big job to do to tackle homelessness and the need for affordable housing and this is a great step forward.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .