Camp Hill’s Bluebell gets underway

27 Oct 2009 03:52 PM

Partner Release. Issued by Pride in Camp Hill.

Camp Hill’s Bluebell development has taken a huge step forward as Barratt Mercia and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, supported by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), formally signed the development agreement.

This is a crucial stage in completing Pride in Camp Hill's vision for the area and secures the delivery of the final piece of the jigsaw that all partners have been working with residents on, over the past few years.

The final phase - Bluebell, named by a local resident, is set to transform Camp Hill and breathe new life into the area. It will include 820 homes built over the next 10 to 12 years. On completion the development will feature a high street, green open spaces, open views across Whittleford Park and link naturally to the rest of the project.

The first phase of Bluebell will comprise one and two bedroom coach houses as well as two, three and four-bedroom houses. AWM is investing £4.9 million in this phase of the development, as part of a total investment of £13.5 million in Camp Hill. And a total of £8.2 million will eventually be invested into the scheme through the HCA’s National Affordable Housing Programme, further to £3.1 million already invested by the Agency in the wider Camp Hill area.

A sales office will be opened in November and the aim is for show homes to be ready by April 2010.

Chris Egan, Pride in Camp Hill Project Manager said: ''Securing the development agreement is a huge milestone for the project. We have a shared vision of transforming not just buildings but the way people feel about Camp Hill - we can look forward to high quality housing that will stand the test of time, that is energy efficient and of new high quality designs.

''We have already began site clearance work on the ground; residents will soon see exciting changes as the development gets underway.''

Andrew Dauncey Project Director at Barratt Mercia said, ''Signing this agreement is a significant step forward for us and means we can now actually start to deliver our vision. After a number years and a lot of effort by all parties in the planning, the new homes will soon begin to take shape and we are very excited to be launching them to the public at the end of this month''

Anne-Marie Simpson, Head of Regeneration at the Homes and Communities Agency in the West Midlands, said: ''The scale of this project cannot be underestimated but it is very much about building and nurturing communities. We are all committed not only to the highest quality, sustainable design but also to the wider social, economic and environmental regeneration of the area.''

Philip Roberts, Partnerships Director at Advantage West Midlands, said: ''Today’s signing is excellent news for Pride in Camp Hill, which is undoubtedly one of the most impressive regeneration projects in the Region. In particular, the community building is a fantastic asset for the estate.

''The way the regeneration activity links in with the community sets a real example for how agencies should view social and economic regeneration.

''The enthusiasm and passion of Nuneaton is exceptional and everybody who has been involved in the regeneration of Camp Hill should be congratulated for their efforts.''

Cllr Peter Fowler, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, said: ''This agreement marks the way ahead for a decade of work to hep create a vibrant Camp Hill. As we know, creating a community is far more than bricks and mortar, and there is an awful lot of work underway to compliment this landmark agreement.''

Ends

For further information on Pride in Camp Hill, contact Julie Smith or Amanda Govani on 02476 399093, or email: Julie.smith@prideincamphill.co.uk or Amanda.govani@prideincamphill.co.uk

For further information about Barratt West Midlands please contact Hannah Elwell, Director of PR or Marina Boor, PR Account Executive on 0116 247 1777 or hannah@unsworthsugden.co.uk or mainab@unsworthsugden.co.uk

For further information on the Homes and Communities Agency, contact Ian Dutton, Communications Manager on 0121 352 5443 or email ian.dutton@hca.gsx.gov.uk

Notes to editors:

Pride in Camp Hill is a partnership project between Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council, Advantage West Midlands, the Prince’s Foundation and the residents and businesses of Camp Hill. Its aim is to regenerate and revitalise Camp Hill creating a vibrant urban community through a series of initiatives focussing on physical improvements, health, education, training and community involvement.

Barratt Group
In 2007-08 Barratt Group completed more than 18,500 homes. We operate across all sectors of the market: from apartments to family homes and from Scotland to the South West. Barratt was voted ‘Homebuilder of the Year’ at The Mail on Sunday British Homes Awards 2008. Barratt Group is one of Britain's foremost sustainable homebuilders. The Barratt Green House on the BRE Park in Garston is the first Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 unit built by a major homebuilder and the Hanham Hall development near Bristol – the first of the English Partnerships’ Carbon Challenge sites – will be the first Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 community in the UK.

Homes and Communities Agency
The HCA is the single, national housing and regeneration agency for England. Its role is to create opportunity for people to live in high quality, sustainable places. We provide funding for affordable housing, bring land back into productive use and improve quality of life by raising standards for the physical and social environment.