03/11/2009 : Brent makes housing history
Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) unveiled its unique new affordable homes development today (3 November), making housing history and setting a new standard for high quality design in affordable housing.
Granville New Homes is owned and managed by BHP, an Arm's Length Management Organisation (ALMO), and was delivered in close partnership with Brent Council and South Kilburn Partnership as part of £1 billion regeneration of South Kilburn.
The purchase of Granville New Homes by BHP from Brent Council earlier this year made BHP the first ALMO in the UK to buy and manage a property of this scale.
The scheme designed by Levitt Bernstein architects, seeks to set new standards for affordable housing in the capital - its 110 properties have been built to the highest quality and have a particular focus on sustainability.
The new homes range from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom maisonettes; 85 of these are affordable and 25 for intermediate renting.
The scheme was developed in close consultation with local communities and all the new homes have been built to the highest specification. All the homes have generous space standards, communal landscape gardens, and water and refuse recycling facilities to offer the highest possible standard of living for its residents.
As a highly sustainable development, Granville New Homes have a series of state of the art energy saving features including
- solar panels
- green roof
- harvesting tanks
- low power lighting
- double glazing
- high levels of insulation
- under floor heating system
- dual flush toilets to save on water consumption
The development also includes a community facility, which provides after school services for local children and other facilities for young and older residents.
Helen Evans, Chief Executive of Brent Housing Partnership, said:
"We aim to provide high quality homes and services to both our own tenants and those in the Brent Council homes we manage. Granville New Homes is our first major acquisition and sets a high standard for the future.
"This flagship development means brighter futures for many of our tenants as well as a new departure for us as an organisation. This is the first time we - and indeed a UK ALMO - have owned and managed a property of this scale, and we believe that this groundbreaking partnership between an ALMO and its Council will become an example for others.
"We will continue to work with the Council and our regeneration partners to deliver improved quality of life for local residents and build better communities."
Councillor James Allie, Lead Member for Housing and Customer Services, Brent Council, said:
"One of the top priorities for the Council is delivering high quality affordable housing to those in need. We are proud that we were able to continue to provide these fantastic homes - despite the current economy - to those who need them the most."
Matthew Goulcher, Managing Director, Levitt Bernstein architects, said:
"Like most winning schemes of design competitions, Granville New Homes is distinctive, creative and bristling with innovations.
"Because from the beginning these homes were supported and endorsed by client and future residents, there is every chance the scheme will stand the test of time and be the foundation of the new sustainable neighbourhood that is to be built around it".
Helping to open the new homes in Brent today was Richard McCarthy, Director General for Planning and Housing at Communities and Local Government (CLG). He said at the event:
"This is a fantastic example of local action by the Council and Brent Housing Partnership. It is a clear demonstration of the new opportunities that are now available to local authorities and ALMOs for the provision of new affordable energy efficient homes."