Families get keys to yet more affordable homes

A showcase development of 109 smart new homes in one of Erewash’s towns has seen the first families get keys to the latest affordable properties being built in the borough.

The two, three and four bed houses plus one-bed flats are where Long Eaton’s former Britannia Mills lace complex used to stand.

The industrial site at Bennett Street was hit by a fire in 2009 and had remained derelict until Erewash council gave the go-ahead for it to be replaced by housing.

Cllr Curtis Howard – who is the borough’s Lead Member for Town Centres, Regeneration and Planning – said: “It’s really great to have people moving into these new homes. The properties are on brownfield land, they’re high quality, affordable, and help get people off the years-long waiting list for social housing. I wish all the best to the local families moving in now and in the near future.”

The housing is a mix of social and affordable rent properties plus shared ownership and Rent to Buy homes. The project was masterminded with council backing by the not-for-profit Futures Housing Group. 

Anthony Holt, one of the housing association’s directors, said: “It’s fantastic to see people have started to move into their new home, especially knowing how needed affordable housing is in this area.” Some half a dozen properties are now occupied – amid a mission by construction firm Lovell Partnerships to complete the entire canal-side development over the next few months. The company’s Mark Roe said: “We’re proud of the progress made so far.”

Those living there will benefit from improved connectivity – with work poised to begin on what will be a new canal crossing. The Britannia Bridge is one of two footways across the Erewash Canal that are being built using Government money as part of Long Eaton’s £25million Town Deal.

The other bridge is a futuristic curved structure linking the centre of town to West Park. It will replace the existing Broad Street crossing.

Homes at the Bennett Street development are being marketed by estate agent Robert Ellis – which sent a delegation to welcome one of the first of the new residents. Futures Housing was also represented. It came after staff from the housing association joined crews from building firm Lovell at a volunteer-run project to create a new Long Eaton Community Garden nearby.

A total of 25 workers spent a day helping out on Norfolk Road by painting a Portakabin and laying 15 tonnes of wood chippings for paths and seating areas. These included a space used as a forest school.

The volunteer group’s Lynn Hodgkins said: “The results are just stunning. We won the Green Flag community award earlier this year and the work Futures and Lovell have done is so important towards helping us maintain that status.”

As well as volunteer gardening sessions, the group provides activities for children with special educational needs and people struggling with their mental health. 

Janene Haywood, Community Engagement Project Delivery Officer at Futures, said: “Bringing new affordable homes to an area is so much more than just ‘building homes’. It’s also about ensuring we have a positive impact for the wider community too.”