Warwickshire News Mine

Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive of the HCA, Englands national housing and regeneration agency, announced the grant in a visit to the flagship programme in Nuneaton, which is being developed by Barratt Mercia. A showhome to market the new homes is due to open April this year.

Speaking on site at Camp Hill, Sir Bob Kerslake said; “You can really feel the excitement in this community as you walk around.  It is undergoing major physical transformation and with one phase complete and another two well underway, you can really start to visualise how impressive this will be in years to come. 

“It reminds us of the importance that HCA investment has had over the past year to keep schemes like Camp Hill moving and enable both house-building to continue and to provide important community infrastructure like the shops and impressive community centre here. Camp Hill also received £1m Kickstart funding this year to enable building on Phase two to re-commence after development was affected by the economic downturn and today’s announcement of extra funding through our National Affordable Housing Programme means more affordable homes are on their way.”

Whilst on his visit of Camp Hill, Sir Bob also met local residents living in the new homes to hear about how the transformation is affecting them.

Ann Corbett, Chair of Camp Hill Residents’ Forum said; “It was a pleasure to meet Sir Bob and to have the opportunity to highlight our achievements and future ambitions.  We have seen exciting changes here in Camp Hill and I am very proud to be involved.”

When completed the overall redevelopment of Camp Hill will see approximately 1,500 new homes transform the former 50s and 60s mining community which faced general decline and deprivation.

Phase one, developed by housing regeneration specialist Lovell, is now complete with 172 new homes of which 40 are affordable and 6 for shared ownership.
Shops and a new community centre hosting a library, education and youth centre is already completed in phase two by Lovell and work is well-underway to delivering 232 new family homes of which a quarter will be affordable rent and shared ownership. 

Phase three is a ten year programme to develop 813 new homes of which a quarter will be affordable.  This phase will also deliver a construction training programme with Barratt Mercia.
 
Phase four next to the Midland quarry void, will see around 240 more homes built alongside business premises, with work starting on site later this year.
Pride in Camp Hill is a partnership project between Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council, regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, the Homes and Communities Agency, the Prince’s Foundation and the residents and businesses of Camp Hill.  Its aim is to regenerate and revitalise Camp Hill creating a vibrant urban community through a series of initiatives focussing on physical improvements, health, education, training and community involvement.
Chris Egan, Pride in Camp Hill Programme Manager said: “Our strong partnership approach is pivotal to delivering a successful scheme, here in Camp Hill.  We have a shared vision of transforming not just buildings, but the way people feel about Camp Hill.  Resident involvement at the heart of everything we do and every decision we make - and it is the residents who make this project truly unique. “

Link to WCC