10 October 2008
Dagenham Heathway community library and housing development foundation stone in place
"Let me show you how it’s done", Cllr Fairbrass lays the foundations for the new Dagenham library.
(Pictured l to r) Lionel Christolomme, Managing Director of Bouygues UK with Dawn Smart, Southern Housing Group’s Head of Development, with the Leader of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) Cllr Charles Fairbrass MBE with Cllr Philip Waker (Village Ward). The partners are pictured at the start of the construction of the brand new library and housing complex at Dagenham Heathway. (25.9.08) (Picture courtesy of the LBBD).
Southern Housing Group’s Development team recently took part in the foundation stone laying ceremony of the landmark development and future library and housing complex at Dagenham Heathway. The five-storey, library and service centre, and housing development and is being constructed by French construction giant, Bouygues on the site of the former Church Elm pub and will be opened in 2010.
Southern Housing Group is financing the residential element of the scheme and secured a grant of £2.5 million from the Housing Corporation to enable the project to become a reality. When it is completed the entire housing component will be handed over to Southern Housing Group who will manage the sales, affordable and key-worker rentals. The building will comprise a two-storey, 2,000 sq m library with a glass feature window; 52 affordable apartments; 26 apartments for sale on the open market and a retail unit.
Dawn Smart said: “This scheme demonstrates Southern Housing Group's commitment to delivering high-quality and much needed affordable homes for local people despite the rigours of a falling market."
She added that: "It was great to see how much progress had been made." We are delighted to be involved in this landmark-regeneration initiative at Dagenham Heathway. We won the competition to deliver this brand-new housing scheme and on its completion it will mean that Southern Housing Group will own and manage nearly 900 properties within the borough. The library at Dagenham Heathway is the result of a sound working partnership that we share with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, the Housing Corporation and Bouygues."
Dawn added that one of the main considerations for the housing development is that the infrastructure is more environmentally sustainable and will have a reduced environmental impact. Each flat will be built to comply to a Level 3 Code for Sustainable Homes. Some of the hot water and the heating within the building will be provided by a bio-mass fired communal boiler that will use wooden pellets and as a result will generate fewer carbon dioxide emissions. Gas fired communal boilers will provide the back up and supplement the bio-mass boiler. The new scheme is also located near Dagenham Heath Underground station and will take only a few minutes to walk to and from it.
Cllr Fairbrass said:
"The Heathway is already a busy place – I understand the mall alone gets 65,000 visitors and shoppers a week. Our regeneration strategy seeks to improve the quality of the environment for shoppers and provide them with easy access to a range of high-quality customer services in a flagship building. Therefore the two core elements of the strategy are the transformation of the public realm and the flagship new Dagenham Library development.”
The council is carrying out an ongoing series of consultations with local people on the scheme and it is investing more than £17 million into the new library and service centre.
Lionel Christolomme, Managing Director of Bouygues UK, said it was great to get the partners together to celebrate a key milestone in the construction process.
"We're very pleased to have reached this stage on such a key scheme, which is going to kick start the regeneration of Dagenham Heathway. Not only will this provide a great boost to the local community but it will act as a catalyst to encourage more people to come into the area to use the resources on offer." -ends-
For more information please contact Karen Bermingham Communications Team on 020 7553 6479 communications@shgroup.org.uk
Notes for Editors
Southern Housing Group will eventually manage:
- 8 x 1 and 2 bedroom flats for affordable rent (via nominations from the LB of Barking and Dagenham);
- 8 x 1 and 2 bedroom flats for intermediate rent (for key workers at 20% less than private rental rates)
- 40 x 1 and 2 bedroom flats for sale on a New Build Home Buy (shared ownership) (via Southern Housing Home Ownership)
- 26 x 1 and 2 bedroom apartments for sale on the open market (via Southern Space Ltd).
The level 3 Code for Sustainable Homes is the Housing Corporation's environmental assessment rating method for new homes in England.
Southern Housing Group Ltd is one of southern England’s largest housing associations. Founded over 100 years ago, we own and manage 24,000 homes for more than 66,000 residents, employing more than 900 people and working with more than 80 local authorities.
Our activities centre on four-key areas: the development of quality-affordable housing, housing and neighbourhood management, a range of rent and home ownership and social investment.
We believe that building communities is as important as building homes. So as well as developing and managing quality, affordable housing for rent and ownership, we invest considerable resources to provide an environment where people really want to live.
Southern Housing Group Limited is a Charitable Industrial and Provident Society No. 27412R.
Southern Housing Home Ownership
Southern Housing Home Ownership is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Housing Group Ltd residents and provides a range of low-cost home ownership and intermediate housing options. It also undertake a specialist leasehold and managing agency service on behalf of the Group and other organisations. The New Home Home Buy scheme enables local people to buy a brand-new home from Southern Housing Home Ownership and part pay a mortgage and pay rent on the remaining share. Should they wish they will be able to buy the remaining shares in steps “staircasing” until the resident owns the entire home.
Southern Space Limited
Southern Space Ltd develops homes for outright sale. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Housing Group and all profits generated by its activity are used to provide much-needed independent funding for other Group activities.
Southern Space Limited is a company registered in England no.05437850.