Work starts to build new council housing in Barnsley, the first for 30 years! | Berneslai Homes

Article: Work starts to build new council housing in Barnsley, the first for 30 years!

 Barnsley Council and Berneslai Homes are pleased to announce the start on site to build 16 two bedroom apartments at Vernon Crescent, Ward Green Worsbrough.  This follows their successful partnership to secure the grant funding which sees the first newly built council owned housing in Barnsley for almost 30 years!

An event to celebrate the start of work on the new development at Vernon Crescent was held on site on 18 May 2010. The event was attended by Councillor Stephen Houghton, the Leader of Barnsley Council and Councillor John Parkinson, the Mayor, who unveiled a date stone that will be built into the gable of the new apartments. It was supported by senior officers from the Council and Berneslai Homes and also by representatives of the contractor, PDR Construction.   
 

Barnsley was in competition with Local Authorities across the country to bid for funding under the governments Local Authority Challenge Fund initiative. This initiative was designed to stimulate the construction industry and to directly involve local authorities in the provision of new social housing. Barnsley was successful in achieving funding for 5 projects which will see 76 new council owned homes being built in the next 12 months. A total of £4.8 million in grant was awarded and was one of the highest allocations of the Challenge Fund Grant awarded nationally. Along with the contribution from Barnsley Council this will result in £10 million being invested in providing new council homes. When the outcome of the bids was announced Councillor Bill Newman, Cabinet Spokesperson for Development said:  “This is great news for the people of Barnsley as it will complement our drive to provide high quality affordable housing across the borough.”

Vernon Crescent is the first of these developments to start on site and PDR Construction, commenced work on the 15 March 2010. The properties have been specifically designed to meet local need and they also incorporate very high design and energy efficiency standards.

In addition to the new apartments the project in Ward Green includes environmental work to the surrounding properties and improvements to the roads and footpaths. Decent Homes work on the estate will be coordinated to complement the development. The project will also offer employment and training opportunities for local people and will support the local economy. 

The first of these new homes will be available for letting in the autumn.  Helen Jaggar Chief Executive of Berneslai Homes said: “This new development will provide more choice for customers on the housing waiting list, it will be great for the local community and will contribute to the wider regeneration initiatives that Berneslai Homes is leading on in the Worsbrough area”.

This scheme, together with the other approved Local Authority Challenge Fund developments that are due to start on site in the next few months, will help continue the process of regeneration across the borough and will assist with addressing the high demand for social housing in Barnsley.  

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