Havering Council and Wates have celebrated five years as Joint Venture (JV) partners on their pioneering estates regeneration project with a day of celebrations.
The partnership, which began in March 2018, has delivered the first 197 homes with 175 completing soon, as well as generating millions in social value. The partnership will ultimately see up to 12 council estates regenerated to provide up to 5,000 urgently needed new homes in the borough.
The first new homes to be completed as part of the JV are at the New Green development in Rainham, where residents took advantage of the summer weather to enjoy a Family Fun Day. New Green has 71 new homes for Shared Ownership purchase, and 126 homes for affordable rent.
The day began with a site visit by Wates Chief Executive, Eoghan O’Lionaird, to check progress at the Park Rise later living development in Hornchurch, followed by a trip to Jackson’s Café, just opposite the Wates project office in Romford, for a morning coffee.
Jackson’s, which was providing all the catering for the various events on the day, works with a social enterprise supported by Wates, Unity Works, which provides employment opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. This is one small example of the massive programme of community initiatives, which have been introduced since the partnership began in 2018.
Mr O’Lionaird then joined Wates colleagues at a partnership meeting at the Town Hall in Romford with Council Leader Cllr Ray Morgon, Havering Chief Executive Andrew Blake-Herbert and Neil Stubbings, Strategic Director of Place, along with the council’s regeneration team. The meeting was an opportunity for both parties to reaffirm their commitment to the scheme and to celebrate achievements to date.
The JV team convened for a team photograph at the Town Hall before joining the new residents at the family day at New Green, where games and activities were enjoyed by all.
A community legacy
Wates and Havering Council have worked in partnership to deliver a lasting legacy across the borough. The New Green development has created 161 jobs for local people, including 21 apprentices; supported over 1,500 students through educational activities and programmes, and generated over £20m worth of business for local companies in the supply chain.
In total, the JV has contributed over £37m in social value to the local area and spent over £75m with SMEs, making a considerable investment in skills, training and education initiatives. In addition, over £400,000 has been donated to local charities and community causes.
The social value programme has been designed to meet the needs of the community and is focused on supporting the local economy and creating opportunities in the borough. To date, 581 local people have benefitted from employment and skills initiatives, in addition to 6,344 students who have been supported by education activities and programmes.
The partnership is now moving into its second phase, which will ultimately provide up to 5,000 new homes in the borough, with the aim of maximising the amount of affordable homes. The next work to be completed will be in Harold Hill, where 600 new homes will be built as part of the regeneration of the Farnham and Hilldene estate.
Eoghan O’Lionaird, Chief Executive of Wates, said: “We are marking a milestone, celebrating five years of transforming lives and communities through regeneration. Looking back on our journey, we are very proud of our progress in not only building homes, but in fostering new communities and delivering meaningful social value.
“Wates is 126 years old, and we have made it this far not least because we’re focused on serving the community, and this is evident from what I’ve seen today at both Park Rise and New Green. These great developments are a taste of what to expect across the whole 12 Estates Regeneration Programme; beautiful homes with flourishing communities where local people will have the opportunity for happiness. We’re enormously proud of what’s been achieved, and grateful for this chance to contribute to Havering’s regeneration over the coming years.”
Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council, commented: “We have taken the time to celebrate and reflect on what we’ve achieved over the last five years of this ambitious partnership. We’re proud to call Havering our home and we want all residents to have a safe, sustainable, and functional environment to live and work in. We’re not just building new modern homes that will last long into the future but bringing new life to an area through jobs and education.
“This partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when private enterprise and local government work together towards a common goal. This will leave a lasting legacy for the people of Havering for generations to come.”
Neil Stubbings, Strategic Director of Place at Havering Council, said: “The social value achieved on this project is impressive, and we’re making homes available for all groups. At Park Rise we have 175 modern, efficient homes, available to older residents, and New Green is providing the opportunity for affordable home ownership as well as social housing. In spite of the challenging economic situation, of the 71 homes for sale, only two units are left. These are giving our key workers, including nurses and teachers, a chance to get on the ladder. We still need to work hard together but this partnership is going to deliver over many years and New Green is a good start.”
