Residents celebrate the regeneration of New Lodge | Berneslai Homes

Article: Residents celebrate the regeneration of New Lodge

The rain failed to dampen local people's spirits as they gathered to celebrate the regeneration of a Barnsley community, as the first phase of a new housing development marks the rebirth of New Lodge.

Yorkshire Housing and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) have invested around £6m into the New Lodge area, with the HCA contributing £2.8m to date. The 66 new, afforable and sustainanle homes have been developed in partnership with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Berneslai Homes and Frank Haslam Milan (FHM).  The properties have been built to replace the non traditional and unsustainable housing which was demolished to make space for the new homes.

Community regeneration specialist FHM has built the mixed tenure development of eco-homes, including 10 two-bedroom bungalows, 10 two-bedroom houses, 36 three-bedroom houses and 10 four-bedroom houses.

All of the properties have been designed to meet Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and have been fitted with solar panels for water heating, helping tenants save money on their current energy bills.

Barnsley Mayor Cllr Margaret Sheard joined local residents and development partners to officially open the first phase of the New Lodge community on Tuesday 24 August.

Cllr Sheard said: "I'm delighted to be here today to celebrate with the people who will be directly benefiting from the regeneration of New Lodge, the residents who live here.

"This is just the first phase of a new and sustainable housing development that will provide much needed affordable homes to rent for the people of Barnsley. It has been made possible thanks to close working of all of the partners involved."

In total, around 150 homes have been earmarked for the area and are being built over a split phased development schedule. Phase 1 began on-site in March 2009 and was completed in June 2010, with the first residents moving in February 2010. 

The homes are now owned and managed by Yorkshire Housing with all the nominations for housing coming from Berneslai Homes and Barnsley Council.

Berneslai Homes Project Manager Vince Lally adds, “ We are delighted to see the completion of these new homes and to other improvements in New Lodge over recent years including improvements to front boundaries and off road parking, decent homes works and an energy efficiency scheme to improve the insulation of some non traditional properties.  All these schemes together create a strong and positive future for New Lodge.”   

Ged Walsh, Director of Development of Business and Development at Yorkshire Housing is delighted with the partnership's achievement.

He said: "These modern, secure and sustainable homes are a great example of what can be achieved through effective partnership working. This development means that dozens of families in Barnsley have the opportunity to live in decent, affordable homes in a real sustainable community."

The regeneration programme has also been developed in partnership with the local community. Developer FHM has hosted site visits to local schools giving the children an introduction to careers in construction and helping them understand the dangers of playing near building sites.

Martin Smithurst, Managing Director of FHM, said: "We're delighted to have completed the first phase of the regeneration of the New Lodge area on schedule and on budget. We hope the residents can now reap the financial benefits of reduced energy bills, thanks to the sustainable build techniques used during the construction of these properties."

 Useful websites

• New Lodge Regeneration Section
• Yorkshire Housing 
• Frank Haslam Milan