Last week, joint venture partners Havering Council and Wates Residential invited residents back to the former Napier and New Plymouth site in Rainham for the first opportunity to view a new council housing development.
The former site, now called New Green, will be the first to be completed as part of the larger ‘12 Estates’ regeneration programme and will provide 197 homes for local people.
The homes are set to be ready by the winter.
All residents who were moved from the site to enable the regeneration to take place are guaranteed the right to return to one of the 126 affordable homes.
Graham, Jean-Claude, and Emily were three of the first ex-Napier and New Plymouth residents to view the new properties.
Jean-Claude said: “The new homes are wonderful. The attention to detail is great, and I think I will be very happy here.”
Graham added: “It is so much brighter and much bigger than before – I’m really looking forward to returning.”
Emily said: “It’s so nice here – I’m definitely considering coming back.”
Shared ownership
The site also has a further 71 homes at the site are also available to buy under a shared ownership scheme.
The scheme will be launched as ‘New Green’ and will prioritise Havering key workers and local people to part buy/part-rent the homes.
By the time the New Green development is completed, the developer, Wates, also expects to have awarded over £18m in contracts with local businesses.
Since work began on the site, the joint venture has invested more than £15m in social value in the Havering community, including over £100,000 with local charities and community causes.
The joint venture says that, so far, 164 local people have benefited from employment and skills initiatives; while over 1,500 students have been supported via educational activities and programmes.
Councillor Ray Morgon, leader of Havering Council, said: “The upcoming completion of this high-quality build will provide much needed homes for our residents who have been patiently waiting to return to the site, as well as help to reduce some of the demand on our Housing Register.
“I am really looking forward to welcoming Graham, Jean-Claude, Emily and all their new neighbours to their new homes later this year.”
Hugh Jeffery, regional development director at Wates Residential, said: “At the heart of this regeneration is the creation of homes that put local people first, so it was brilliant to take residents round the New Green development and showcase the incredible progress that has been made on site.
“The launch of New Green marks the next phase in our joint venture partnership with the council as we deliver an exciting new chapter in the borough’s history for the benefit of all who live and work here.”
Main image: The New Green housing development in Rainham
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