Phase A of the North Taunton Woolaway Project (NTWP) is nearing completion and an opening ceremony with special guests took place, to celebrate the milestone.
To date, Somerset Council’s regeneration scheme has replaced 26 Woolaway homes, which the Government designated as defective, with 47 new and more sustainable homes for tenants.
The new homes include a mix of 1 and 2 bedroom flats and bungalows, 3 bedroom chalets and 3 and 4 bedroom houses, including 5 wheelchair adapted properties.
The homes benefit from energy efficiency measures such as solar panels, triple glazed windows and air source heat pumps, which will allow tenants to live in highly insulated buildings, have lower energy bills and produce less carbon emissions.
A ceremony took place with speeches, a tour of one of the new homes as well as a presentation of a bouquet of flowers, to welcome one of the new tenants.
Guests included the Leader of Somerset Council, Cllr Bill Revans, Lead Member for Communities, Housing and Culture, Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, other key Members, Council Officers, as well as representatives from contractors, Equans, Homes England and tenants.
Cllr Smith-Roberts, said:
We hope tenants enjoy living in these fantastic new homes, and we are grateful for the community support we’ve received during the build process, as I know that it has not always been easy.
In the midst of a housing crisis, at a time when we see demand for housing far outstripping supply, we are proud to provide high standard, climate friendly homes that are suitable for our tenants – it’s a great achievement.
Our work with partners, including our successful £5million grant from Homes England, shows what can be achieved with a proactive and forward-thinking council.
We will continue to support the North Taunton scheme as it moves forward to help tackle the housing crisis in Somerset.
Jon Young, Regional Director at Equans, said:
We’re delighted to be handing over Phase A of this scheme and to see the first of the residents moving into their new homes.
From the start, this contract has been about more than simply delivering bricks and mortar. It’s sustainable regeneration; delivering energy efficient homes to meet the needs of local families, as well as ambitious decarbonisation targets, with lasting and positive wider community benefits.
To see the homes achieve EPC ratings of A+, making them effectively carbon-neutral, is a real achievement which everyone involved should be proud of. The new residents will have homes that are warm and comfortable which we hope will be enjoyed by the community for many years to come.
Working with Somerset Council and local people and businesses has also been a key priority for us on this contract and we were thrilled to recently be recognised for our outstanding programmes of social value, by winning the National Building and Construction Award 2023 for our Community Engagement with the local community in Taunton.
Take a look at the upgraded homes on our YouTube playlist here: www.youtube.com/playlist/NTWP.
Information about all phases of the NTWP can be found here: www.somerset.gov.uk/NTWP.
