Construction begins on 25 new affordable homes in Winyates, Redditch

Construction works to build 25 new, energy-efficient, and affordable homes on the site of a disused Redditch church have now commenced.

The first stage of the works included the demolition of St Gregory’s Church in Winyates, Redditch. The Church closed its doors in 2005 and fell into a state of disrepair. The site had become a magnet for antisocial behaviour in recent years.

Carl Taylor, Assistant Director of New Business and Growth at GSA said: “I am delighted to see that spades are in the ground at our new development in Winyates. We are proud to be working in partnership to deliver new affordable homes for the local community.

“In addition to providing homes for social rent, we are also making homes available at this development for purchase under a low-cost home ownership scheme. This will be a first step on the ladder for those who aspire to own their home. By offering a mix of tenures at the development we are helping to meet a variety of local housing need.”

Our new housing scheme in Winyates will see a total of 12 homes reserved for social rent while 13 units will be available under a shared ownership scheme. Once complete, the homes will be transferred to Winyates Cooperative Homes to manage.

A housing co-operative is run for and by its tenant members who are drawn from the local community.

Les Harborne, Chair of Winyates Cooperative Homes said: “It is great news for Winyates that construction has begun on 25 new affordable homes. This will hopefully help bring an end to the antisocial behaviour which has occurred sporadically on the site where St Gregory’s church once stood. Once complete, these homes will help address the chronic housing shortage in Redditch.”

The new homes in Winyates will be built using pre-fabricated timber panels supplied by LoCaL Homes- our award winning, low carbon manufacturing facility based in Walsall.

Lee Cox, our Technical Manager at LoCaL Homes said: “We are really pleased to be involved in this project which will deliver thermally efficient homes for the community in Redditch.

“The future residents of this affordable home’s development will benefit from many of the features of living in a modern, energy-efficient home. The fabric of the homes will be constructed from sustainable, low carbon materials that will ultimately lower overall energy demand which will result in lower heating bills.

“Off-site construction will mean the homes will be built faster and in a cleaner environment than traditional builds and with minimum disruption for residents moving into the development.”