More eco-friendly social housing on the way for St Albans district

Lib Dem-controlled St Albans City & District Council recently signed the two contracts for two new social rent home developments in Batchwood and Sopwell following the finalisation of the technical designs for a sustainable energy heating solution.

This is in keeping with the council’s commitment to no longer install gas boilers in any of its new-build council properties.  

The Hedges site on Woollam Crescent in Batchwood will see 12 new homes - six three-bedroom houses and six two-bedroom flats - which will be built by contractor Taylor French.

Meanwhile, a £5.1m eco-friendly social housing development on the former King Offa and Norman Close site in Sopwell has also been signed off with contractor Jarvis. Like the Hedges development, it’s built to provide permanent family homes and will also help address problems with overcrowding thanks to its offering of 14 new homes comprising 11 three-bedroom houses and two four-bedroom houses, as well as a wheelchair liveable bungalow.

For both sites, construction work is set to begin shortly and is due for completion by May 2023.

The developments are part of the Liberal Democrat strategy to remove poor-quality temporary accommodation and build permanent homes for social rent. Current temporary accommodation has already been decommissioned, with higher-quality temporary accommodation being re-provided elsewhere in the district.

The council and contractors Taylor French and Jarvis will be in contact with nearby residents to inform them of start dates of the construction works and provide contact details for any issues.

Jacqui Taylor, current candidate for St Peter’s and the council’s lead for housing, said: “Everyone deserves a warm, safe, and comfortable place to call home. Our Liberal Democrat-led council will continue to work to build inclusive local housing that offers people a permanent place to live that they can genuinely afford.

“We’re also delivering on our aim of providing more three- and four-bedroom houses to help address the issue of overcrowding.”