AFFORDABLE HOMES PLAN FOR FORMER SHELTERED HOUSING SITES ACROSS CITY
But council needs to secure funding
DOZENS of new council houses and flats are set to be built on five former sheltered housing sites – if external funding can be secured.
Stoke-on-trent City Council is in the process of demolishing the disused complexes in Meir, Hanley, Tunstall, Longton and Abbey Hulton – some of which were plagued with anti-social behaviour – following their replacement with three new schemes.
Council leaders have now revealed plans to redevelop each of the sites with new affordable homes for rent for the authority’s housing revenue account (HRA). The proposals include apartments for the over-55 and bungalows, as well as general needs flats and houses, with a number of options still being considered for some of the sites.
But each of the developments will be dependent on the council securing funds from Homes England, a council report warns.
Cabinet members will be asked to approve the redevelopment proposals at a meeting, although the council will still need to gain planning permission for each of the schemes.
Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing, said: “We have made a significant investment in new housing in the city in recent years and we are committed to delivering high quality homes to ensure all of our residents can live well at home for longer. All of the sites are different in terms of size and layout, so the proposals are in their extremely early stages and could change as we progress, but it is very exciting to be at this stage and to be building even more new homes in the city. We are confident that our residents will benefit from the redevelopment of these sites and are looking forward to being able to bring them back into use.”
Meir South councillor Faisal Hussain has welcomed the plans for the Doris Robinson Court site, which lies in his ward.
He said: “This site has sat empty for around four years and had
become a hotspot area for antisocial behaviour. I welcome the plans and look forward to seeing development on this site as soon as possible.”
Council leaders hope to fund the schemes through a combination of Homes England grants,
‘section 106’ money secured from developers, and HRA borrowing. The report says that without the Homes England and section 106 money, ‘it is highly unlikely the council can achieve a viable development on the sites due to the restrictions imposed by
differing funding sources, low rents and high construction costs’. If funding from Homes England is secured, construction on the schemes would need to start by September 2025, with a completion date no later than March 2026.
Mr Robinson added: “The five former sheltered housing sites were no longer fit for purpose. These have been replaced in recent years with the 57-room Queen Elizabeth Court complex and the 65-room Rialto Court complex, in Fenton, and the 114-room Chatterley Court development in Chell Heath which
is currently under construction. We will be applying for funding under the Homes England Affordable Homes Programme to support the development of these sites and, if successful, we hope to see construction start on site by September 2025.”