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12 December 2007
Countryside Properties, English Partnerships and Presentation, the social investment agency, have submitted a major planning application that will bring over 370 affordable new homes to Dagenham.
| The scheme, comprising a total of 600 mixed-tenure homes, has been designed by BPTW and WGI architects in two phases with six attractive character areas. The plans which have a strong emphasis on low rise, traditional family housing and high quality public and private open spaces, will create a vibrant new community and revitalise Lymington Fields, a 12.9-hectare former Further Education College site in the Chadwell Heath and Becontree area of Dagenham, which has been derelict since the 1990s. |
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An outline planning application was submitted to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham on 13 November and a detailed application for the first 350 homes, at the west end of the site, was submitted shortly afterwards. These proposals have now been registered by the authority.
Michael Hill, Business Development Director for Countryside Properties said: “We are delighted to be working with English Partnerships and Presentation to deliver this scheme as part of the London Wide Initiative, which will provide nearly 200 homes for key workers as well as homes for social rent and shared ownership. The partnership’s design team have worked hard to deliver a scheme that exceeds planning policy requirements for sustainable development and is genuinely sensitive to the local community.”
The proposals greatly improve on a previous planning consent for the site, granted in 2003. A new access road will be created which will take traffic away from existing residents’ homes and a site for a new primary school will be provided. A 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to similar developments will be secured through renewable technologies such as biomass boilers (using organic fuels) and photovoltaic cells (to convert sunlight into electricity).
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The scheme is being delivered as part of English Partnerships’ London-Wide Initiative (LWI), which seeks to fast track the provision of affordable housing in the capital for key workers in public services. At Lymington Fields, 178 properties will be set aside for shared equity under the LWI and a further 194 affordable homes will be sold for shared ownership, and general needs rent through Presentation. 228 properties will be sold to owner occupiers.
Kevin Clark, Senior Regeneration Manager at national regeneration agency English Partnerships said: “The shortage of high-quality, affordable homes in London is a major issue, with many key workers struggling to get a foot on the property ladder.
“The London-Wide Initiative is an effective way of bridging the affordability gap and this development at Lymington Fields will offer a range of home ownership opportunities. We look forward to working with Countryside Properties and Presentation to deliver the regeneration needs of the local community.”
Notes to editors
Over half of all the properties will be traditional family houses with gardens, and homes of 1 – 5 bedrooms will be provided to suit all needs. Most of the new homes will be two storeys high, with several bungalows planned for the west end of the site, ensuring that the scheme complements the character of existing nearby homes.
English Partnerships is the government’s national regeneration agency delivering high quality, sustainable growth in England.
English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation are working with the Department for Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed Homes and Communities Agency.
Information on projects and programmes can be found at www.englishpartnerships.co.uk
The London-Wide Initiative (LWI) is a government-backed scheme managed by English Partnerships which enables key workers to buy their own home. English Partnerships has purchased a range of 15 development sites across inner and greater London to deliver new, affordable homes in collaboration with the Housing Corporation. Under the Initiative, the government shares the costs and the benefits of homeownership with purchasers in order to make these homes more affordable.
Three development partners have been selected to work in partnership with English Partnerships to deliver homes through the London-Wide Initiative; First Base, Key London Alliance and a consortium led by Countryside Properties plc.
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Information correct as at 12/12/2007