A housing association is investing £7m as part of a 12-month programme to further improve its existing homes across North Yorkshire.
Broadacres is conducting a range of work across its housing stock in this year and next, as part of its commitment to providing “great homes”, which forms part of its mission statement.
This includes: 350 new kitchens; 40 new bathrooms; 151 new boilers; 311 new triple glazed windows; and 180 fence replacements.
Andy Powell, Broadacres’ customer services director, said: “As well as building new homes in our rural communities, we have always recognised the importance of ensuring our existing homes are affordable, warm and maintained to the highest standards.
“The work we are undertaking in 2023/24 will have significant benefits for our customers and the feedback we have received so far has been very positive. We are looking forward to delivering the rest of the programme in partnership with our customers and contractors.”
Among the first residents to benefit from the work are people living in The Orchards, Broadacres’ extra care scheme in Brompton, near Northallerton, where over 30 new kitchens have been installed in homes.
The work was carried out by the housing provider’s contractor, Esh Construction, which was appointed on a five-year contract in April 2023 to deliver kitchen and bathroom replacements on behalf of the association.
As well as new kitchen and bathroom units and furniture, this also includes plumbing, tiling, flooring redecoration and electrical rewiring.
The Orchards was the first scheme to have work completed, and at an afternoon tea event in the scheme recently, residents met representatives from Broadacres and Esh to discuss the work.
Peter Craggs has lived in The Orchards for 20 years and says that due to having muscular dystrophy, his new kitchen has made a massive difference to his life.
He said: “I can’t bend down so having all the new kitchen units at one level has made it so much easier for me.
“I was able to choose the type and colour of the units and I now have more space in the kitchen, so I couldn’t be happier.”
In addition to the planned maintenance programme, Broadacres has also allocated another £7m for responsive repairs, and for conducting work on empty homes before they are re-let.
Meanwhile, as part of the organisation’s affordable warmth programme, it is also continuing to install energy efficient air source heat pumps into its homes, along with a range of wider measures to make homes more energy efficient. Broadacres say that over 800 homes are now using this form of heating.
Colin Ford, operations director at Esh Construction, said: “This scheme marks the first refurbishment contract we will deliver with Broadacres in 14 years. We are delighted to be working in collaboration to improve living conditions for tenants while building on our extensive experience of delivering refurbishment works for more than two-decades.”
Main image: Peter Craggs in his new kitchen, with Broadacres’ contracts supervisor, Paul Mann, and Esh site manager, Ian Wilkinson (right)
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