Work Underway on Flagship Rainhill Housing Development
Work on Helena Partnerships' flagship new housing scheme in Rainhill is underway.
Construction will be starting on Phase One of the new Ratcliffe Park development, off Rainhill Road, of two/ three-bedroom houses and apartments in the coming weeks.
Working in partnership with construction firm Bramall Construction, community regeneration specialists Keepmoat and St Helens Council, the initial phase of the £4 million development will provide opportunities for people to get on the property ladder through shared ownership, as well as some outright sales and rented accommodation.
Phase one is a development of 62 new properties, and it is hoped that a further phase of 44 homes will follow. The original housing estate, known as Warburton Hey, was demolished in 2008 to make way for the new scheme.
The development has been designed by DK architects of Liverpool, who also designed Helena's acclaimed Heald Farm Court extra care facility in Earlestown. The homes will be built to the lifetime homes standard and will also be energy efficient.
Shared ownership is available on a number of properties through Helena Living, which aims to provide affordable housing for people wanting to get onto the property ladder.
An open day to offer people further information on shared ownership, as well as the opportunity to buy outright, will be held on Thursday, May 20, at the Millennium Centre, Rainhill, from 1pm to 6.30pm.
Rob Young, Helena Partnerships Chief Executive, said: "This is a flagship development for Helena in a prime location and by offering properties on a shared ownership basis we are really giving people a helping hand onto the property ladder.
"I am delighted that work is now underway at this fantastic development. We have worked very closely with our partners, local residents and former tenants from the site, to make sure that we are creating a positive and sustainable community in that area."
Steve Parrington, Construction Director at Bramall Construction, said: "We are delighted to have worked in partnership with Helena and consultant partners on this exciting new development. Everyone who worked on the pre-construction team was fully focused on achieving a high quality design while demonstrating excellent value for money which I believe we have achieved. We are looking forward to developing a strong relationship with the local community and we will engage with them as much as possible, every step of the way, so that they feel strongly involved in the project."
Helena tenant Dave Ormesher and his family were the first to move into homes in the old Warburton Hey development in the 1960s and, now along with other tenants, Dave has been involved in the planning for Ratcliffe Park.
He said: "The planning for the new development has been going really well and it has been great for tenants to have been involved. Helena has been very positive and the new development will be in-keeping with the area - I'm really looking forward to seeing the development take shape."
Pictured (From left to right): Helena Partnerships Chief Executive, Rob Young; David Wroe, Regional Director for Keepmoat Homes; Helena tenant Dave Ormesher (holding hat); and Steve Parrington, Construction Director for Bramall Construction.
14 May 2010
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