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Flintshire housing scheme gets second round of approval

Published: 25/02/2016

Flintshire Council’s plans to build new affordable housing across the County are steaming ahead with planning permission now granted for 92 new homes at The Walks in Flint. The approval follows December’s announcement that 12 new homes will be built on the site of the former Custom House School at Connah’s Quay, contributing to the Council’s target to build approximately 500 new homes in the next five years. Forming part of the Council’s Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (SHARP), the new developments will be built by its strategic housing partner, Wates Living Space Homes. Construction of the new homes will begin later this year, which will include the creation of 62 houses and 30 apartments on the site of the former maisonettes at The Walks. As part of the project, Wates Living Space Homes and Flintshire Council have made a joint commitment to create extensive opportunities for local training and employment. It is estimated that over 2,000 people will be employed. This includes a number of training and apprenticeship opportunities for local people throughout the SHARP programme during the next five years. A comprehensive community Investment strategy will be implemented which will see local schools and community groups benefit from a SHARP Communities Fund which is due to launch in May this year. Efforts to engage local suppliers in the work has included a Meet the Buyer event for local subcontractors, with an estimated £40m worth of sub-contracting work packages set to go to local firms. Cllr. Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing said: The re-development of The Walks will mark the beginning in practical terms of a very exciting period for the Council in realising our long-held ambition to regenerate the site following the demolition of the former Council maisonettes. The new scheme will provide new and much needed quality affordable housing in Flint.” Cllr. Ian Roberts, Chairman of the Flint Masterplan Committee said: Along with my fellow local councillors, Alex Aldridge and David Cox, I would like to thank all involved for their vision, skills, dedication and determination to drive the scheme forward. The scheme when finished will undoubtedly breathe new life into Flint.” Joanne Jamieson, Managing Director of Wates Living Space Homes, commented: “Flintshire Council’s Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme is the first of its kind in Wales. By pioneering such ambitious housing investment plans, the Council is providing a leading example of how housing shortages can be surmounted. “With planning approval secured for the second batch of housing in as many months, it is evident that there is a local appetite for high quality new housing for the County. As part of Wates’ presence in Flintshire, our team is now hard at work engaging with local supply chain partners to ensure that this ambitious investment creates extensive opportunities for training and employment.” The SHARP proposals are based on the Flintshire Housing Standard, which has been developed in consultation with tenants. This standard has informed the design and specification of the proposed new housing, including the consistency and quality of the internal and external finish, in addition to standards of energy efficiency, with an importance placed on adequate parking. Notes to Editors About Wates Living Space Wates Living Space, part of the Wates Group, is one of the UKs leading affordable housing and maintenance providers. Operating across the UK it is focused on working with local authority and housing association partners in their local communities to build more homes and improve existing housing through planned and responsive maintenance. Wates Group, established over 119 years ago, employs approximately 4,000 people and posted a turnover of over £1bn in 2014. Wates Group was the first large contractor ever to be awarded Business in the Communitys Community Mark and in 2013 was awarded the inaugural National Business Award for Corporate Citizenship in recognition of its leadership and excellence in community investment.