housing plus group

MP visits new affordable homes in Stafford

Stafford MP Theo Clarke visited a new development of homes for affordable rent and shared ownership. The site of 23 houses and apartments off Sandon Road being built for Housing Plus Group, is revitalising an area on the edge of the town centre.  With progress well underway on the site, the

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Housing association set to transform former pub site

Work is underway on a landmark housing project that will provide much needed homes for affordable rent and shared ownership in the heart of a popular Shropshire market town. Planning permission for nine new homes on the site of the former Beehive pub in Shifnal was granted in March and

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Latest Issue
Issue 325 : Feb 2025

housing plus group

MP visits new affordable homes in Stafford

Stafford MP Theo Clarke visited a new development of homes for affordable rent and shared ownership. The site of 23 houses and apartments off Sandon Road being built for Housing Plus Group, is revitalising an area on the edge of the town centre.  With progress well underway on the site, the MP met Housing Plus Group Chief executive Sarah Boden and members of the development team to see what will be available when the first residents move into their new homes later this year.  Housing Plus Group has partnered with Midlands construction firm Markden Homes on the development of three-bedroomed houses and one and two-bedroomed apartments. In a key project for the housing provider, Wheeldon Close will become the first new affordable housing site to be completed following the merger between Housing Plus Group and Stafford and Rural Homes.   It is an important step towards fulfilling a commitment made by the Group during that merger, to help address the local housing crisis by starting work on 2,000 new homes for rent, shared ownership and outright sale across Staffordshire and Shropshire by 2023.   The high specification homes have been built on the site of a former car showroom on one of the gateway roads into the town centre. It was named by pupils at John Wheeldon Primary Academy, who wanted to honour a former head teacher who went on to become mayor of Stafford.  Theo Clarke said: “I was delighted to visit the new development to see the regeneration of a brownfield site in Stafford – it is fantastic to see a positive example of local development, including homes for shared ownership, to help people get on the housing ladder.  One of my priorities as the local MP is to ensure that people have the opportunity to own their own homes.    “It was also an opportunity to discuss matters raised by constituents and to work together to find solutions.”  Sarah Boden said that she was delighted to welcome the MP to Wheeldon Close and to show her around some of the homes and apartments under construction:  “We are very proud of the homes that are taking shape on this development. These are high quality, attractive homes for local people to rent and to be able to step onto the first rung of an incredibly challenging housing market through shared ownership.   “I believe very strongly in the transformative power of housing not only to change lives but to revitalise locations like this, close to the town centre. The homes will help us to make a positive difference to homes, lives and communities; bringing people and families into the area, sustaining local facilities and helping shops and businesses to thrive.   “We are looking forward to welcoming the new residents of Wheeldon Close soon and in a key year for our Group, we are also nearing completion of the nearby Wren House, which will provide 80 one and two-bedroomed retirement apartments for affordable rent.” 

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Housing association set to transform former pub site

Work is underway on a landmark housing project that will provide much needed homes for affordable rent and shared ownership in the heart of a popular Shropshire market town. Planning permission for nine new homes on the site of the former Beehive pub in Shifnal was granted in March and the builder TC Homes, working in partnership with Housing Plus Group, has started on site. Kerry Bolister, Director of Development at Housing Plus Group explained: “Since it was closed in 2017, the pub and its car park have become something of an eyesore, attracting anti-social behaviour and many in the town will welcome the start of work to transform the site. “The scheme has also won the backing of councillors for providing homes in an area with very high demand for affordable accommodation.” TC Homes, which has worked with Housing Plus Group on previous projects and brought this development opportunity to the attention of the housing association, is the construction partner on the project that will see nine, three bedroomed houses built (six houses for affordable rent and three for shared ownership). Built as three terraces, they’re expected to be completed by May 2022 and Tim Charnley, TC Homes Director, commented: “We are excited to get started on our new project with the Housing Plus Group. The build will consist of nine affordable houses for the local community and will utilise a space that has sat dormant for some time. “With the country having such a large housing shortfall, we hope our contribution to the construction of affordable homes will benefit the surrounding community and provide opportunities to local sub-contractors and suppliers. “We appreciate that any kind of construction can cause some inconvenience to those directly affected but we hope with working in partnership with residents, schools and the wider community we can achieve another fantastic development.” The development is part of wider plans by Housing Plus Group to start 2,000 new homes across Shropshire and Staffordshire for rent, shared ownership and outright sale by 2023 as the organisation strives to make a positive difference to the homes, lives and communities it serves. 

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