Local MP for Wentworth and Dearne and former minister for Housing John Healey, paid a visit to a new £4.85m housing development in Wath last Friday to see the progress of 41 new affordable homes and meet the young apprentices who are working on the project.
Denman Road is phase two of a housing development from local housing association Guinness Northern Counties which will provide 41 new two and three bed houses when it completes next summer 2012.
John Healey MP was met by members of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, contractors Lovell Partnerships and representatives from Guinness Northern Counties for a tour of both sites and the opportunity to meet two of the young apprentices who are working with contractors Lovell Partnerships on the development.
John Healey released funding for the development when he was Housing Minister in the last Government. He commented: “Having given the green light for funding, it’s great to see this new development taking shape. Good quality affordable new homes are in desperately short supply at the moment so this will be welcomed by local families. I’d like to commend all those involved in this project which is bringing much needed regeneration, investment and jobs to the area.”
The new homes at Denman Road will be available for rent and Homebuy and each house meets Level 3 Code for Sustainable Homes and Secure By Design accreditation.
Grant funding of £1.8 million for the 41 homes in Phase Two has been provided by the Homes and Communities Agency.
In its entirety, the development will provide a total of 70 new homes in Wath, once Phase two completes.
John Ray, Head of East Region at Guinness Northern Counties, said: “I am delighted that MP John Healey has taken the time to come and look at the new homes the Association is creating in partnership with Rotherham MBC and Lovell Partnership.
As part of our commitment we encourage our partners to employ apprentices in order to continue to develop the skills of the local labour market.”
Noel Adams, regional director at Lovell said: “We have been working with Guinness Northern Counties and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council on this scheme for some time now and the positive changes the new homes have already brought to the area are a testament to all those involved in the development.
“We are thrilled to have been able to offer apprenticeship positions to local people, as they are a key asset to our business, and this is a great opportunity for MP John Healey to see the high standard of work they are carrying out.”
Local Councillor Alex Sangster, Chairman of the Local Area Development Committee, said, “It is great that so much improvement at such a high quality is going on in Wath. It is even more important that this project is giving work opportunities and skills training to young people, at a time when government cuts and policies which limit growth are having such a drastic effect on the future of our young people.”
The properties were designed by Sheffield based architects AA Design.