Dexter gets new home for 1st birthday

Published by Debs Ramsden for Nottingham Community Housing Association Ltd in Housing

Brand new affordable homes built by Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) were showcased to Erewash councillors this week. 

The derelict site of the former Petersham Hotel in Grasmere Road, Long Eaton, has been transformed into 12 affordable homes with two for shared ownership and ten for rent including a bungalow which has been adapted for wheelchair use. 

The homes have also provided a lifeline for young families in the area desperate for a home of their own.  One such couple is Kirsty Nall and her partner James Yates.  With their young son, Dexter, they had been living at Kirsty's Mum's house in Sawley for the last year but moved into Grasmere Road just four weeks ago. 

As the couple prepare to celebrate Dexter's first birthday at the weekend, Kirsty commented: 

"We've been on the housing list for nearly a year but we never expected a brand new property.  The house is really spacious and has all the mod cons including environmentally-friendly heating - we couldn't have hoped for better." 

After meeting Kirsty and Dexter, Councillor Carol Hart, Lead Member for Community Engagement and Deputy Leader of Erewash Borough Council toured the site and said: 

"This development has been warmly welcomed in providing much-needed affordable housing that offers a high quality living environment. It has been a great example of partnership working and demonstrates our continued commitment to providing homes within our communities that are affordable, thoughtfully designed for residents with disabilities and that can be adapted for the changing needs of residents throughout their lives". 

The site received a grant of £30,000 from Erewash Borough Council and nearly £600,000 from the Homes & Communities Agency.  The remaining funding of £727,740 was provided by NCHA.