'This is England' estate transformed by five-year regeneration project

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing

A Nottingham housing estate that formed the backdrop for the Shane Meadows film 'This is England' has been transformed thanks to a multi-million pound regeneration scheme.

Stonebridge Park in St Ann's is unrecognisable from the grey, delapidated and intimidating estate depicted in the 1980s-based drama thanks to a five-year project that is creating nearly 250 new homes, refurbishing 240 others and improving community facilities.

The development is a partnership between Nottingham City Council, asra Housing Group and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The homes will be managed by Nottingham City Homes (NCH).

The HCA provided £5.5m to kick-start the scheme, unlocking a total investment of £11m for new housing to create more choice for residents and a mixed and sustainable neighbourhood.

NCH will manage 71 properties on Dennett Close, Beacon Hill Rise and St Matthias Road and include rent to home buy, and intermediate rent properties as well as social rented homes.

The first tenants have now been given the keys to their new home and are moving into their properties on Dennett Close.

Sylvia Ackah has moved back into the area after her home was demolished to make way for the new properties. She said: “It’s very nice to be back and the children are really happy with their new home.”

NCH Chief Executive Nick Murphy said: ““We are delighted to be welcoming our first tenants to this new development which has been designed very much with the local community in mind.”

Nottingham City Council Executive Assistant for Housing and Regeneration Councillor Alex Ball said: "This is an important milestone in the regeneration of Nottingham’s Eastside. From the start this project has been community led and I am pleased that local people are now able to see new social housing helping create sustainable neighbourhoods for people to live in."

Matt Cooney, asra Housing Group Chief Executive, said: “This is our flagship scheme and was achieved by all parties and the community working together. “We are very proud that we have also attracted buyers for the 24 private sale homes on this phase of the development.”

All homes are built to high environmental and design standards, achieving Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Improvements to the ‘public realm’ and green space have also been incorporated in the plans.

Of the 258 new properties on the site, 210 are two, three and four bedroom homes with the remaining 48 flats. Just over 240 properties that weren’t demolished as part of the regeneration project are being refurbished.

The work has transformed Stonebridge Park, removing the ‘Radburn’ style of housing in which homes face away from the street, with a more traditional street pattern.