Member Article

Kirklees Council Leader praises "excellent" Unity affordable homes scheme

The Leader of Kirklees Council has toured a new £1.2 million Unity Homes and Enterprise affordable housing project which is nearing completion in Huddersfield.

Cllr Shabir Pandor was joined by Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Cathy Scott, Unity Chief Executive Ali Akbor and other senior representatives of the housing association.

Nine family homes for affordable rent are being constructed on a former garage site on Quarmby Road.

The land was owned by Kirklees Council before being acquired by Unity following a competitive process.

The new development comprises six semi-detached two-bedroomed properties and three terraced houses with three bedrooms apiece.

Each home will have a garden and private parking.

Construction work on the project is due finish in the coming weeks with the first tenants expected to move into their new properties shortly afterwards.

This is Unity’s second affordable homes development in Huddersfield. It also owns and manages a scheme of flats at Fartown.

Ali Akbor, Chief Executive of Unity Homes and Enterprise, said: “Unity has a well-earned reputation for delivering the highest quality affordable homes. The new properties certainly meet that standard.

“The internal fit out is now well underway. This will be followed by external works which includes pathways, fencing and turfing.

“I have no doubt that the prospective tenants will be delighted with their new homes and we look forward to welcoming them into the Unity family.

“We are proud to have played a part in improving people’s lives for more than three decades. Most of our work has focused on Leeds, but we are glad to be on the cusp of opening our second scheme in Huddersfield.

“Working in partnership with the Council, we hope to significantly broaden our footprint in Kirklees in the years ahead.”

Mr Akbor was accompanied on the site visit by Unity’s Director of Regeneration, Wayne Noteman, and Unity Board members Abdul Ravat and Shazia Khan.

Cllr Shabir Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council, said: “It was excellent. The properties are really good, very spacious and will meet the needs of our residents and communities. It’s a really inspiring development.

Cllr Cathy Scott, Kirklees Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “The development is a good example of successful co-design with partners who have specific expertise and ability. With a shortage of affordable homes, Quarmby Road is a valuable contribution to our wider plans as part increasing available housing across Kirklees.”

The Quarmby Road scheme is the pilot project for Kirklees Council’s Small Affordable Housing Sites programme, which draws on the expertise and resources of registered providers to maximise the delivery of affordable homes in the district.

Earlier this year, Cllr Pandor launched the Council’s ambitious plan to deliver 10,000 new homes by 2023. The Big Build is a comprehensive programme of proactive activity to increase the rate of house building across Kirklees by working with private landowners, major house builders, housing associations and small site developers to increase the supply of new homes.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Barry White .