Renovation celebration

Over 100 Rochford Housing residents and their families enjoyed fun, games and lunch in the sun at a special celebration day to mark the completion of the first phase of improvement works to their homes.

Rochford Housing Association’s improvement programme is a five year, £27 million project to bring all tenants’ homes up to and beyond the Government’s Decent Homes Standard. The first phase of work started in April 2008 at homes in and around Rochford Garden Way and during that time over 240 properties have been brought up to the ‘Rochford Standard’.

The event gave residents the opportunity to get together, enjoy a family fun filled day and learn more about Rochford Housing’s plans for improvements to the estate’s communal areas.

Entertainment and activities on the day included demonstrations by Essex Fire and Rescue Service, face painting, football sessions and live music from two local bands. Youngsters had the opportunity to try on uniforms from Essex Police and check out the service’s vehicles. They even managed to wash a police car with one of the fire engine’s hoses!

Emma Keegan, managing director of Rochford Housing Association said: “Events such as this are one of the ways we can thank our residents for being so accommodating during the improvement works to their homes. The feedback we have received about the works so far has been excellent and we look forward to continuing to maintain the high standards our residents have come to expect as the project enters its next phase.”