Posted on August 25th, 2020 by Elaine Davies
Our development of 72 homes just off Queen Margaret’s Road and Gerard Avenue in Coventry is now complete.
The affordable part of the site, known as Gerard Avenue, comprises of 51 affordable homes and the Tudor Grange section has 21 homes being sold through our Signature brand.
All our affordable properties were handed over to customers in March.
Telca Nala was one of our first customers to move into one of the affordable homes with her son.
She said: “I’m so grateful to have moved into my lovely house here.
“I lived in a three bed previously and I really wanted to swap it for a two bed.
“When we got here the house was beautiful outside, then we found it was lovey inside too – and it had a fantastic back garden.
“I can’t help but wish that everyone else can have a property like mine – building developments like this can change people’s lives.”
The development’s key features include being close to the university, good transport links to the M42 and being surrounded by areas of wildlife which are unusual in an urban setting.
Our Executive Director of Development Nick Byrne said: “This is a lovely development in Coventry and it’s great news all the homes were completed earlier this year.
“Final stage works including roads and footpaths are due to be finished this September.
“The modern homes at this development are lovely, spacious and well-designed, with two nice brooks running through the development which attract wildlife.”
Ten homes are currently available for outright sale at Tudor Grange. For more information about the properties visit signaturenewhomes.co.uk or email info@signaturenewhomes.co.uk
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Posted on August 13th, 2020 by Elaine Davies
We are supporting a scheme to help transform the River Sherbourne which runs through Spon End in Coventry.
The scheme, which is being led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, will restore and celebrate the natural, built and cultural heritage of river. The river starts near Corley Moor before disappearing beneath the city in a large pipe underground.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund have awarded £253,600 to the Wildlife Trust and we have donated an extra £5,000 for the project.
Our Director of Regeneration Services Kevin Roach said: “The funding will help develop and produce plans over the next 18 months that will propose improvements to the River Sherbourne. It will aim to reconnect the people of Coventry with the city’s river and restore the river for wildlife.
“Following the production of the plans, a further bid will be made to the National Lottery Heritage fund for a grant of around £1.8million to deliver a further four-year scheme of projects focused on the river in Coventry.
“We have become involved in this project because a critical element of the Spon End regeneration is to enhance the environment and green space for residents, the river is a hidden jewel that runs through the Spon End estate and as such will be a focal point to achieving this key objective”
A key element of the scheme is to raise awareness of the existing natural and built heritage already present on the river.
These are two Grade 2 listed bridges – one scheduled monument (a single span bridge), and locally listed sluice gates that span the river. The ruins of an old chapel sit adjacent to it in Spon End.
These, and other features go largely un-noticed to people who pass by during their busy lives. The scheme will aim to safeguard, restore and interpret these features to help the people of Coventry be proud of their river.
The scheme will also develop an extensive volunteer and events programme designed to enable local people to develop a sense of ownership for their river. Working with community groups and schools, people from across Coventry and further afield will benefit from a revitalised River Sherbourne.
Kevin added: “The section of the River Sherbourne that runs through Spon End is currently overgrown and not accessible for residents to enjoy. The project aims to bring this area of Spon End back to life for residents, and its wildlife, to enjoy and in turn improve their quality of life and wellbeing.”
Director of Living Landscapes at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Ian Jelley said: “We’re are absolutely thrilled with the news the National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting this scheme. We have been working in partnership with local people for over five years developing ideas and this investment enables us to make a real impact on the ground. 2020 is Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s 50th anniversary, and with next year being City of Culture, this is excellent timing. We are really excited at what this scheme could deliver for people and wildlife in Coventry.”
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Posted on August 12th, 2020 by Elaine Davies
We’re committed to investing £255,000 to fit out 70 re-let homes at the Fresh Start standard over the next six months.
Our Fresh Start project is a pioneering project to let our homes at a new, higher standard giving our new customers a foundation for life.
These 70 homes are our existing bedsits throughout Coventry, which are some of our hardest to let properties.
Work will start in September 2020 with 35 of these homes having new flooring and fresh decoration and 35 having new flooring and white goods to help us really understand the impact these added benefits have for our customers.
Kevin Rodgers, our Chief Executive, said: “We believe very strongly that it is our duty to make sure when people move into our homes they get a fresh start.
“Too often social housing tenants start off on the wrong foot, with none of the essentials they need to be able to live well in a home.
“We believe this could be part of the solution to address many tenancy sustainment issues related to affordability, eviction and abandonment, particularly for single people who are struggling on low incomes and receiving Universal Credit.
“The Fresh Start standard is the first step in us saying that we think our customers deserve better and we are committed to making sure they get the right start with us.”
We piloted Fresh Start in ten of our homes in October 2019.
It followed a project which was led by an in-house team who worked with innovation organisation !WhatIf? to conduct research on what customers wanted most from their new home. From this the team created the new standard.
Our next pilot will test some elements of this standard to provide more robust data which will inform future investment.
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Posted on August 11th, 2020 by Elaine Davies
Following the success of the activity packs that we helped to create for Victory in Europe (VE) Day, we are now launching more packs, helping our customers and staff commemorate Victory Over Japan (VJ) Day.
We are working with the Royal British Legion, the National Memorial Arboretum and a group of housing associations including Housing21, Anchor Hanover and Orbit so people can find out more about the hugely significant day in a fun and interactive way.
The 75th anniversary of VJ Day will be commemorated on August 15 and it marks the end of fighting in the Second World War.
As some restrictions are still in place, we have created the packs so that the day can be easily commemorated from home. The packs include facts, recipes and games.
Our Director of Care and Support Martyn Hale said: “The packs we released for VE Day were incredibly successful and we are delighted to team up with the Royal British Legion, National Memorial Arboretum and other housing associations to mark the anniversary of VJ Day, despite social restrictions.
“The 75th anniversary of VJ Day is a significant occasion as it marks 75 years since the end of fighting in the Second World War – this is an incredibly important moment in our history and something our older customers may remember.
“We want to help people remember the contribution of all British, Commonwealth and Allied forces made, without whom the freedoms and way of life we enjoy today would not have been possible.
“We’re proud to be involved in creating these packs again and we hope they will be as well received as our VE Day packs.”
Head of Participation and Learning at the National Memorial Arboretum, Chris Ansell, said: “VJ Day is often overshadowed by VE Day, and the service given by diverse forces who served in the Far East is too often overlooked.
“The activity packs are a great way to pay tribute to the entire Second World War generation, both military and civilian, who served and sacrificed on our behalf. They include great opportunities for people to learn, have fun and remember what happened on VJ Day.”
Just click below to download the packs and get involved.
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Posted on August 10th, 2020 by Elaine Davies
Work on a £5.5m project to build 45 new affordable homes in four locations has been completed and properties handed over to residents.
We contracted with Seddon on the developments which are made up of shared ownership homes and affordable rent.
The four sites include:
- Overdale Road – 30 garages were demolished, and seven houses and two flats were completed
- Attoxhall Road – the site at Attoxhall Road has six affordable rent and four shared ownership homes
- Edwin Rodgers House – former buildings were demolished, and seven affordable rent and four shared ownership have been built.
- Harry Stanley House – buildings were demolished, and 15 affordable rent homes have been built.
Our Director of Development Richard Whittaker said: “At Citizen we are committed to building new, affordable and desirable homes across key locations across in the West Midlands.
“These sites in Coventry have been completed to the highest standard by Seddon, who are one of our framework partners, helping us fulfil the need for homes for rent or sale that people can truly afford.
“We hope the people who have moved into the homes enjoy living there.”
Joy Folami has moved into one of the houses after living in temporary accommodation. She said: “I am living here with my partner and four children. I love my house, it’s a lovely area that is quiet.
“It’s my own house and only my family have lived in it – we love that.”
Work initially started on the developments in summer 2019.
Rob Moore, Business Unit Director at Seddon, said: “Affordable homes have to be just that – available to the people who need them most in the places where they’re built.
“Our partnership-led approach to housing delivery is at the heart of what we do at Seddon. These four sites are part of a successful relationship we’ve built with Citizen, which is committed to addressing the issue of affordable housing head on – an aim we embody at Seddon.
“Working closely with Citizen from the outset on any development, we are able to identify what types of homes are needed and bring them to people with minimal disruption, high craftsmanship and low cost.”
In December 2019, Seddon also started work on an innovative £2.1m project for us to turn unused space in existing buildings into 36 new social rent homes across Coventry, Birmingham and Worcester, which was also commissioned through the framework.
It is intended to benefit the communities where projects are delivered, from local labour and apprenticeships, to community projects and reinvestment into areas.
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Posted on August 6th, 2020 by Elaine Davies
We are delighted to announce that our Development, Regeneration and Sales Team have been shortlisted for the Digital Construction and Client of the Year awards at this year’s Constructing Excellence West Midlands awards.
The Constructing Excellence Midlands awards recognise best practice in the West Midlands and demonstrates how construction plays a vital role in shaping our country for future generations.
The team made the shortlist for the Digital Construction award for their adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) within affordable housing and the Client of the Year award recognises our collaborative approach with contractors to deliver real value throughout the region.
Our Executive Director of Development Nick Byrne said: “It’s fantastic to be recognised for all the team’s hard work at the Constructing Excellence Midlands awards this year.
“As a team we are always committed to delivering real value and good quality homes throughout the region.
“Well done everyone involved. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for the awards ceremony in December!”
The Constructing Excellence Midlands awards are taking place on December 10 at the Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham.
Find out more about the awards and the shortlist now.
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Posted on August 5th, 2020 by Elaine Davies
We have donated some of our PPE to a local baby hospice which will help them to reopen next Monday (August 10).
Zoe’s Place – which is based in Coventry and provides palliative, respite and end of life care to babies and infants – closed during lockdown because of the Covid 19 pandemic as many of the children who use the hospice are in a high-risk category and fundraising events for the hospice were also cancelled.
The hospice is now planning to open on Monday, August 10, but couldn’t do so without relevant PPE, so they put out an appeal for help to get the items needed.
We are one of several organisations who responded to the hospice by donating several gloves and aprons.
Our Head of Estates and Services Elly Dix said: “We are so pleased we have been able to help Zoe’s Hospice in Coventry by donating some of the PPE we already have.
“The donation didn’t affect our services, so we were more than happy to help this organisation who carry out such vital work.
“It’s brilliant news that we have been able to help, and they’ll be reopening on Monday.”
The donation was given to the hospice by Void Cleaner Driver Sam Saunders and Void Cleaner Gary Smith.
Sam and Gary said: “It’s brilliant news that we are able to provide this PPE for the hospice and it is our pleasure to deliver it.”
Zoe’s Place helps babies and infants up to the age of five who are living with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses and the PPE will help reduce risks for them.
Community and Events Fundraiser at Zoe’s Place, Marc Dwyer, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who has donated PPE for us to use – it means we can get our really important services back up and running. We wouldn’t be able to open without the relevant PPE.
“We put an appeal out on Facebook to ask for help with PPE and last week we started to get donations.
“These will help us to provide respite care which means that parents who are providing 24-hour care can have a break while their children are at the hospice.
“It’s such a relief that kind-hearted organisations in Coventry like Citizen have been able to help us.”
Find out more about Zoe’s Place here.
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