Luton BSF programme adds value with new homes project
27 November, 2009
The people of Luton are set to benefit from much needed affordable housing in the town with more than 500 homes to be built as part of the New Homes project - a new partnership arrangement between the Council and the local education partnership (LEP) and the first of its kind for a Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
The housing contract that makes this possible has been signed and valued at around £70 million. Design and build will be delivered by Wates Living Space, the affordable housing division of Luton’s BSF construction partner, the Wates Group. The homes will be owned and managed by Catalyst Housing Association as the registered housing provider.
The new homes will be built on a number of “brownfield” sites around Luton, which brings its own set of challenges. But the shortage of available housing land in the town means that imaginative solutions are necessary. There are also plans to use sites that are currently under-utilised, with land swap arrangements in some cases, to improve amenities as well as provide building space.
Design will be of the highest standard and construction on the first units should start within the next few months.
Cllr Tom Shaw, Luton Borough Council’s housing portfolio holder said: “I am delighted this contract has been signed. We are facing real housing pressures in Luton and this project will deliver additional, and badly needed, family homes that will reduce waiting lists a little and help us take more families out of temporary accommodation.”
Ian Burnett, Managing Director, Wates Living Space says “Wates Living Space is delighted to be playing such a major role in the social and economic regeneration of Luton as well as providing modern housing. We have committed to engage at least 70 apprentice placements, as well as running our industry leading Building Futures programme which focuses on helping the over 25’s back into employment.
“This innovative partnership model shows how true public private partnerships can be developed to provide excellent value for local authorities, developing previously unviable sites as part of a wider programme of housing schemes for the homeless in Luton.”
Julie Moulder, Catalyst’s director of development added: “Having been selected as the registered housing provider for the New Homes for Luton scheme, Catalyst hope this will be the first in a series of developments that bring much needed, good quality, affordable housing to the Luton community. We look forward to working closely with the Council and partners to make this development a huge success.”
The LEP has already embarked on a major programme of regeneration with its Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, which is worth over half a billion pounds and with a remit to deliver new and refurbished schools and a host of community facilities that will include a community theatre, a 50m swimming pool, libraries and the innovative children’s development centre, which is to be part funded by the NHS.
The entire project will deliver some major additional value to the town. The investment in Luton’s infrastructure will bring a big economic boost to the area, creating a large number of local jobs and opportunities for apprentices, as well as improving the standard of education for young people. Wates is committed to using a substantial proportion of local labour, suppliers and sub contractors and to delivering more than 260 apprenticeships over the next four years.
Wates Living Space will be working in partnership with the Homes and Communities Agency and Cataylst Housing Group to fund the housing project. The pooling of mixed tenure sites within a development phase allows any surplus created on better sites to cross subsidise less viable sites within the same phase. This approach allows otherwise unviable sites to be developed to provide more affordable housing for the New Homes for Luton Programme
Categories: new build, regeneration, affordable housing, BSF, northern home counties
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