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Published: Fri 30 November, 2018 The first council homes to be built in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in almost four decades have been finished and handed over to new tenants.

North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) is currently building new council homes across the district to provide affordable housing to families. It’s the first NWLDC new-build council home project in Ashby since 1981.

The new homes consist of three houses in Smedley Close and four bungalows in Staley Avenue, Ashby. A special celebration event today (Friday 30 November) saw representatives of NWLDC, the housebuilder Robert Woodhead Ltd, and MP Andrew Bridgen, meet many of the new tenants.

This marks the completion of the first phase of the council’s housebuilding project following the handover of 17 new homes in Linford Crescent and Verdon Crescent, Coalville, earlier this year.

The next phase is the building of 24 new homes at the site of the former police station in Ashby Road, Coalville, a project that is well under way and due for completion in May 2019.

The council’s contractor, Robert Woodhead Ltd, has built the new homes which tenants are now moving into. All of the homes have been made available to residents on the council’s housing waiting list at an affordable rental cost.

Four of the new homes have grass roofs in the place of traditional tiles which are proven to act as better insulation. They also reduce stormwater runoff and attract birds, bees and butterflies, reducing the ecological impact of the development.

Councillor Roger Bayliss, Portfolio Holder for Housing at North West Leicestershire District Council, said: “These new homes show our determination to provide affordable homes across North West Leicestershire and increase the council’s housing stock.

“This is an investment that will benefit our communities long into the future and we’re delighted with how the project is progressing. From speaking to the new tenants it’s clear they’re delighted too!

“Now we’re looking forward to the completion of the next batch of homes in Ashby Road in Coalville next year. It’s an exciting time for us.”

Leo Woodhead, Business Development Director for Robert Woodhead Ltd, said: “We’re very proud of the partnership we have formed with North West Leicestershire District Council as part of this project, and we’re delighted to be able to handover these fantastic new homes for local people.

“While working on this programme we have been able to offer local young people over 1,000 hours of work experience on site. Keeping things as local as possible, we have also made sure 93 per cent of the money spent was within 20 miles of the site, as well as 96 per cent of our on-site labour.

“These properties are secure, warm and modern, energy efficient and cheap to run. We hope they will provide well-loved homes for generations to come.”

Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, said: “I’m delighted that the council is building high quality affordable homes for local people. For the first time in decades we have a council that is committed to building social housing as part of the Government’s Affordable Homes Programme.”

John Watts, 72, is a tenant that will be moving into his new home next week. He said. “My wife and I are proud to be moving into our lovely new home and very excited. It’s going to make a real difference to our lives, mostly in that it will be allow us to be much closer to family, shops and the doctors. We’re very grateful and excited to be moving in next week.”



