Kris Hopkins MP, Minister for Housing, visited Poole last week to see first hand some of the new homes being built for local people.
The Minister toured Poole's regeneration area, which includes the single largest regeneration site in the South West, comprising 26 hectares of brownfield land in the heart of Poole. Borough of Poole has invested over £30 million in the new Twin Sails Bridge which has opened up this site for the development of new homes, shops, businesses and community facilities.
During the visit the Minister took the opportunity to see:
* Carters Quay, a privately led housing development under construction on the edge of the regeneration area in Hamworthy. Planning permission has been granted to build 268 homes on the site and Inland Homes plc is currently marketing the first phase of properties with the first sales now completing.
* Former power station site in Hamworthy. Landowner, JJ Gallagher Limited, has submitted an expression of interest to the Housing and Communities Agency for support under the Large Scale Infrastructure Fund to build at least 1,500 homes on this site.
* Old School Place and Scholars Walk, a mixed housing scheme in Hamworthy consisting of affordable housing, shared equity homes and market housing. Local families started to move into their new homes last month and the Minister was able to view the high standard of finish inside the properties. The site was formerly a school close to the regeneration area and Borough of Poole released the land to Spectrum Housing Group, a local housing association, for affordable housing.
Housing Minister Kris Hopkins said: “It was great to visit Lower Hamworthy, and see for myself how local people are bringing the site of a former power station back into use to deliver 1,500 new homes.
“We’re determined to do all we can to get Britain building, and a key part of that is bringing formerly used, brownfield land back into use. And we are doing our part in Government, having identified enough formerly-used, public sector land for 100,000 homes.
“So I was pleased to see how Poole Council, working with developers, are making the most of the brownfield land in their area to deliver the homes their community wants.”
Councillor Elaine Atkinson, Leader of the Council, Borough of Poole, said: "The visit was a great opportunity to show the Minister the progress being made to deliver new homes in Poole. A significant number of these properties have been purchased with help from the Government's Help to Buy Scheme.
"The council is working closely with its partners to bring forward housing schemes at the earliest opportunity. Our strength and success of working in partnership can be demonstrated by the Government's recent announcement to award Dorset LEP £66.86million to improve infrastructure around the Port of Poole as well as Bournemouth Airport."
Hamworthy ward Councillor Mike White, Deputy Leader of the Council, Borough of Poole, commented: "It was great to meet Kris Hopkins MP and to show him some of the fantastic new homes being built in Poole offering a real choice for local families.
"Securing affordable housing remains one of the council’s highest priorities and the regeneration area provides some of the best opportunities for us to meet Poole's housing challenges."
Richard Hill, CEO at Spectrum Housing Group said: “It was great to show the Minister around our Old School Place development at Hamworthy. It’s a really strong example of joint working between Spectrum and the Borough of Poole. On a tight site we’ve been able to build high quality houses for sale, shared ownership and affordable rent which are already proving very popular. And we’ve had great comments from local residents on how pleased they have been to see the school sensitively restored.”