Housing provider Midland Heart has begun handing over its first homes built with developer Partner at its Leicestershire development on Station Road, Bagworth — the first of a series of sites on the horizon between the two organisations.
The £8.5m development, which is near Coalville, has revitalised almost four acres of derelict industrial land and on completion later this year will provide more than 60 houses and flats at affordable rent for local people.
Samantha Bray (pictured above), the first tenant to move in with her children aged 11, six and three, said: “It’s fantastic to have my own home again. The last few years have been horrendous and this house marks the start of a new life for myself and my three children. Getting this house means everything to me.”
Another new tenant, who asked not to be named, said she was looking forward to setting up home with her little family: “We’ve been living with my mum and dad so it was a bit crowded with seven of us in one house. I’m thrilled to have this house and it’s only 10 minutes drive from my parents.”
Joe Reeves, Executive Director of Strategy & Growth, Midland Heart, said: “Providing genuinely affordable homes to local people in areas where they want to live is at the very core of our business as a provider of high quality social housing.
“Our Station Road development is exclusively affordable rent and the first phase will provide 61 family homes and one bedroom flats to help meet the demand for housing in the locality. A second phase, already under construction, will add a further six homes.”
Midland Heart has received a grant of just over £3m from Homes England, the public body that funds new affordable housing in England, towards the cost of the scheme.
Steve Walsh, Construction Director with Partner in the Midlands, added: “It is fantastic to see our first development with Midland Heart come to fruition and particularly pleasing to see what it means to the new residents to get one of these homes.
“Bagworth marks the start of a series of projects in which we will be working together over the next few years, bringing much needed affordable housing to communities across the Midlands.
“An excellent working relationship has been established and I am sure the partnership will continue to strengthen.”
Midland Heart and Partner are also working together on developing housing in Warwickshire and Staffordshire, with the first of 95 homes at St Mary’s Road, Nuneaton, due for completion later this summer.
