Member Article

Next phase of affordable Sheffield homes

The second phase of Sheffield Housing Company’s £250 million investment in the city is underway.

Design and development work for a project in Fir Vale is about to commence and consultation with local residents could begin early next year.

The two hectare Earl Marshal site - between the A6135 Barnsley Road and Earl Marshal Road was cleared of former council flats several years ago – ready for redevelopment, which will include the retention of several mature trees.

It is adjacent to Osgathorpe Park and Owler Lane local centre, while Fir Vale School, Whiteways Nursery, Infant and Junior School and the Northern General Hospital are all close by.

Although construction was not scheduled to start until mid 2015, the high local demand for new homes means that Sheffield Housing Company is considering ways to bring this forward. Whilst proposals are subject to change during consultation and detailed site investigations, it is anticipated that over sixty new homes will be built.

These will be designed to meet the needs of the local population and are expected to be even larger than the homes built to date in the first phase of development at Falstaff, Norfolk Park and Shirecliffe.

It is likely that the majority of the homes will be for private sale but there will be some for affordable rent and possibly shared ownership, depending on the market at the time and the continuing emergence of Help to Buy.

As the plans start to take shape, local residents will be given the opportunity to see and comment on the proposals. Meanwhile, to be kept informed contact Tamsin Auckland or Ellie Roden on 0114 202 7129 or email sheffieldhousingcompany@sheffield.gov.uk.

Sheffield Housing Company is a partnership between the city council, regeneration specialist Keepmoat – which will construct the properties - and Great Places Housing Group. Over the next 15 years the aim is to develop 2,300 new homes, revitalising neighbourhoods and creating local job, training and supply chain opportunities.

Said Tom Fenton, Project Director with Sheffield Housing Company: “With work progressing well on the first phase we are looking to plan further developments in order to meet the increasing demand for affordable, high quality housing in the city.

“The Earl Marshall plot has been earmarked as one of eight in the second phase of building and once design teams are fully appointed we will begin to engage with the local community to incorporate their views into the design and development of the homes.”

Local ward member, Cllr. Talib Hussain, said: “Local people and local councillors have been waiting a long time to see houses being built on this site so this is great news which I am sure will be welcomed by the Fir Vale community. It’s wonderful to see the consultation process starting and I look forward to seeing people moving into new homes.”

Around a third of the homes built by Sheffield Housing Company will be for rent or shared ownership and the remainder for private sale. All will reach the Lifetime Homes standard, making adaptations easier to allow people to remain living independently for as long as possible.

In addition, 15% of the properties homes will be completed to Mobility Standards and 10% will be fully wheelchair accessible. With an emphasis on quality, space and value, no other builder in the area is constructing homes to such exacting standards.

Residents have already begun to move in to homes at Brearley Forge, named after the inventor of Stainless Steel, Harry Brearley – where 142 properties are under construction and at Cutler’s View, Norfolk Park where a further 116 are being built. Work has also begun on a further 47 more homes on small infill sites in Shirecliffe.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .