THE REGENERATION of Spon End in Coventry has begun.
Construction has started in the first phase of social housing provider Citizen’s project to build new affordable homes in the area.
Citizen is working with The Hill Group to deliver the first phase, which will include 257 affordable homes, 209 of which will be homes for social rent.
Around 750 homes in total will be built over the next 10 years under the £250million project.
Director of Regeneration at Citizen, Kevin Roach, said: “It’s great to see work now underway at Spon End. This is a significant project for us and will make a real difference to the area.
“These new homes will provide warm, modern and energy-efficient places, and it’s exciting to be one step closer to delivering them.
“We’re committed to investing in new homes, regeneration and renewal, and we’re looking forward to working with our partners as the transformation of the area take shape.”
The new development also includes new green spaces, and will open up the area around the River Sherbourne.
The beginning of the first phase follows the announcement of a new £6.7million investment into the scheme by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
The project is also supported by Coventry City Council and Homes England.
Homes England and the WMCA have invested a total of over £39.5million into this phase of the project.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said: “We must build more homes that are truly affordable, like these social rent properties at Spon End.
“I’ve seen how the lack of a safe, warm and secure home can blight people lives and hold them back from achieving their goals.
“I’m using the funds available to me to start tackling years of under investment in affordable homes so we can start fixing this housing crisis and change more local lives for the better.”
The Mayor also announced he was investing a further £2million into Citizen’s redevelopment of the Wyken estate in Coventry to provide a further 63 social rent homes.
Stuart Bale, Regional Director at The Hill Group, said: “Reaching this milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Spon End. As construction gets underway, our focus is on delivering high-quality homes that will provide residents with comfort, security and a place they are proud to call home.
“Affordable housing is a vital part of creating strong and sustainable communities, and we are proud to be working with Citizen to bring these much-needed homes forward.
“With work now on site, we look forward to seeing the development progress and delivering homes that will have a lasting positive impact for local people.”
So far at Spon End, 158 homes have been demolished at Kerry House, Milestone House and Trafalgar House as part of phase one.
The new homes which will be built on the site will be a mix of one and two bedroom flats, due to be completed between late 2028 and mid 2029.
Coun Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Coventry City Council, said: “It’s impressive to be here as work gets started. I came here last year when the demolition had just begun on the 1960s properties that were no longer fit for purpose.
“To be here to see building work get started on the first phase is exciting. Affordable, well-built and energy efficient homes will be a real boost to the neighbourhood.”
Kate Collins, Head of Affordable Housing Delivery at Homes England, said: “Increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting stakeholders of all sizes to achieve their ambitions.
“It’s great to see work begin on the first phase of the Spon End project. This is a prime example of how we work with partners in the public and private sector to achieve our mission of building much needed new communities that people can be proud to call home.”
The redevelopment of Spon End will be completed in phases.
Area two will see homes demolished at Spon Gate House, George Poole House, Givens House and the low-rise flats with around 500 new homes built on the site.
In area three, homes in Wellington Gardens, Sherbourne Street and Upper Spon Street will be demolished to make way for 493 new homes.
Citizen will be looking at which phase to develop next over the next 12 to 18 months.
