South Derbyshire welcomes new housing

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

A £5m affordable housing scheme in the heart of Swadlincote, Derbyshire has been officially opened.  Thirty-nine homes have been built as the first part of the retail, housing and leisure redevelopment of the former Wraggs Pipes and Hepworth’s production plant.  

The development, which has been named as Alleyne Close, consists of 32 homes for rent and seven for shared-ownership or rent to home-buy and will be managed by Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA). 

It has been built as part of South Derbyshire District Council’s commitment to provide affordable housing provision across the area. Cllr John Lemmon, Chairman of Housing and Community Services at the District Council, said: “Providing decent, affordable homes for local people to live in is one of the District Council’s top priorities. 

Good quality sustainable housing such as this is also crucial to support the growth, regeneration and prosperity of the town.  "We have worked closely with the Nottingham Community Housing Association to ensure affordable housing is provided exactly where it is needed." 

Construction is continuing on the retail and leisure parts of the site, set to generate more than 350 jobs and pump at least £20m a year into the local economy. The 3.6 ha site will be home to a five-screen Curzon cinema, household stores Argos, Peacocks and Home Bargains, and supermarkets Iceland and Aldi. 

The leisure and retail aspect of the scheme is expected to be handed over to tenants for fit-out by July and trading is anticipated to start by Christmas 2011.