Home straight for rural regeneration

Published by Steve Murphy for Sentinel Housing Association Ltd in Housing and also in Communities

WORKMEN are on the home straight of the £20m regeneration of Bishops Green estate, near Newbury.

Sentinel Housing Association and Hill Partnerships welcomed Sir George Young MP to the flagship development recently, delivering even more affordable homes, as the final 68 homes next to Greenham Common get underway.

Sentinel Chief Executive Martin Nurse said: “I’m pleased that the residents here are so much happier. The final phase is now underway, and once complete, it’ll be as obvious to everyone else as it is to us that the community here have a place to be proud of.”

Sentinel and Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council teamed up with the local community in 2006 to improve the quality of life in less prosperous areas, resulting in the demolition of 95 outdated homes, and replacement with 148 homes, a new village hall, shop, youth centre, and playground.

Sir George Young has been a big supporter of the project, and called in last week to launch the final phase.

He said: “This is a model regeneration scheme, and now with more shared ownership and homes for sale, a wider mix of people will be able to enjoy the great amenities.

“Everyone’s done really well to get more housing on a constrained site without it looking overcrowded.”

The first phase completed in May 2008, the second phase in September 2009, and the keys will be handed over on the final phase in mid-2011, and is Sentinel’s fifth community regeneration project in just over a decade.