Innovative housing project completed in Stoke-on-Trent

Published by awalsh for Sanctuary Housing Association in Housing

Wednesday 20th June 2012 - 10:22am

Neil Macleod, Senior Project Officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Dave Williams Sanctuary Development Manager for the Midlands, Cllr Gwen Hassall and Mark Birkin Sanctuary Project Manager at the converted home.

Young apprentices were given the chance to learn new skills during an innovative project to bring empty properties in Stoke-on-Trent back into use and transform them into family homes.

Leading housing and care provider Sanctuary Group has been carrying out a £9 million housing refurbishment programme in the Hanley City Centre South area for the past five years.

During the latest phase of this project, two empty neighbouring terraced properties in Kimberley Road have been renovated and converted into one large family home to help address a need for this type of housing.

The renovation also gave two young apprentices the chance to learn valuable joinery skills while working with Sanctuary’s appointed Stoke-based contractor CJ Bayley Ltd.

During the entire five year programme, which has been carried out in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, a total of 79 empty homes have been completely restored and made available to rent.

More than 450 operatives and 12 trainees have worked on refurbishing the properties which have been refitted with new windows, floors, plumbing, heating and electric.

Sanctuary’s development manager for the Midlands, Dave Williams, said: “Bringing empty homes back into use is helping to make a real difference for families in the area, while creating new jobs and training opportunities in the process.

“Sanctuary has worked in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council for the last few years and look forward to working with them in the future to build more affordable homes to meet the housing demands.”

Councillor Janine Bridges, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for housing, neighbourhoods and community safety, said: “This initiative is an innovative way of helping to improve the city’s housing stock. It has breathed fresh life into two run-down, empty properties, and helps meet a distinct housing need in the city for larger family homes.

“As part of our Mandate for Change we are committed to making our city a great place to live, and this includes driving up housing standards. The quality of the refurbishment is excellent and will make a real difference to the lives of city residents.”

The work has been funded with the help of grants from RENEW and the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency.