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A developer has been chosen by Forest of Dean District Council to deliver the next stage of the regeneration of Cinderford and build almost 100 new and affordable homes over a two year period.
Kier Partnership Homes has been selected by Cinderford Town Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to build 99 environmentally sustainable homes on the site of the council-owned Ensors abattoir in Valley Road. The proposed homes range from one-bedroom flats to rent to four-bedroom houses to buy.
The project is part of the partners' wider plans to regenerate Cinderford by delivering new and affordable homes, jobs and improved educational facilities in the town. The HCA has supported the project by providing the council with a £2m investment that enabled it to acquire the Ensors site and support the company’s relocation to new premises in Valley Road Industrial Park. This move will help safeguard around 130 local jobs.
All the new homes will be delivered to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which is a higher standard of environmental sustainability than a traditionally built house. These high-quality standards form a key part of the HCA's work in the Forest of Dean. Of the new homes, 40 will be affordable and will be managed by Two Rivers Housing.
Kier's bid also included a commitment to working with local suppliers and providing local employment and training benefits during the life of the project. Ten apprentice positions and one management trainee role will be created. Kier will now work towards submitting a detailed planning application in January 2012 with a proposed start date in the summer of 2012. The homes are expected to be built by October 2014.
Councillor Patrick Molyneux, leader of council, said: "Cinderford has long been in need of affordable homes so this project is brilliant news and reaffirms the council's commitment to enabling the provision of homes to meet local need. It is also great to hear that Kier has made a commitment to support new construction apprentices who will have hands on involvement in the build."
(CD)
