Latest Press Releases
My North Town
Leadbitter Group Awarded Contract for My North Town
23rd July 2010First Wessex has announced to residents that the contractor successful in the tender for the redevelopment of My North Town in Aldershot is Leadbitter Group.
First Wessex shortlisted three contractors earlier this year who each received a “Tender Package”. All contractors were interviewed by the Design and Development Team including a representative from the My North Town Residents’ Consultative Group.
Its Chairman, Jim White said: “We are delighted that Leadbitter has won the contract as we were all very impressed at how they work closely with residents to ensure that everything goes smoothly whilst construction is underway. My North Town is a seven year project and it is vital that the good community spirit is maintained throughout the six phase building process.”
Hazel Warwick, Group Development Director for First Wessex added: “We were most impressed at the professional manner in which Leadbitter responded to our tender. They were 100% compliant in all areas. We are confident that the best contractor was chosen for the job.”
Bob Rendell, Leadbitter Group Chief Executive said: “We are proud to be awarded this important contract for Aldershot. We have a strong track record of working both within and for the community in providing training, employment and resident involvement in our construction projects. We are already in contact with Aldershot College to provide apprenticeship opportunities on My North Town. We look forward to work starting on site very shortly. Our Community Engagement Manager Jeanette Hawrot is leading the company’s initiatives to offer apprenticeships and other benefits to the local Aldershot community. “
The timing for the My North Town renewal project is planned to be:
Start work on site for Phase 1a Autumn 2010
Phase 1b Summer 2011
Phase 1c Autumn 2010
Phase 2 Spring 2012
Phase 3 Spring 2013
Phase 4 Winter 2013
Phase 5 Winter 2014
Phase 6 Winter 2015
People can view a virtual tour of the regenerated estate on My North Town website: www.mynorthtown.net. The My North Town Enquiry Line 0800 358 0459 is still available for interested residents to call for any further information.”
ENDS
For My North Town media enquiries please contact:
Ursula Tavender, PR and Communications Executive at First Wessex
Tel: 023 9289 6759
Mobile: 07776 226598
Email: Ursula.tavender@firstwessex.org
For Leadbitter media enquiries please contact
Carol Jones at Shere Marketing
Tel: 01483 209302
Mobile: 07877 996574
Email: cjones@sheremarketing.co.uk
Notes to Editors
My North Town renewal project is the proposed £100 million redevelopment and regeneration scheme of First Wessex within the North Town estate of Aldershot. It also includes a number of commercial premises and leasehold properties.
There are approximately 500 homes in the area and the majority are occupied by First Wessex residents. My North Town’s aim is to strengthen the existing community and provide buildings suitable for the next generation – comfortable, economical, eco-friendly homes in a mix of housing styles with courtyard communities and gardens. The project wants to build on the existing sense of community already felt in North Town. My North Town will be a safer, more attractive environment better suited to the needs of all sections of the community.
The project funding is available from three sources: grants from the Government’s Homes & Communities Agency (HCA); private sector finance and from First Wessex ’s own resources. The funding will enable complete replacement of the existing 500 homes, with the potential to develop a further 200 homes in future phases as long as planning permission can be obtained.
All of the current homes for rent will be replaced with new homes with affordable rents and all current First Wessex residents who wish to remain on the new development will be able to do so. The new development will also offer homes for shared ownership. It is hoped that any later phases will provide a proportion of private ownership homes.
The project will transform the estate over a period of seven years and will involve new building to replace the existing blocks of flats and retail units. The My North Town Renewal Project’s long term aim is to produce a greater mix of housing, both more variety of sizes of homes including more houses with gardens and different types of ownership such as, general needs renting, shared ownership and private ownership. All the homes will be built to the latest modern design and environmental standards.
As part of the regeneration proposals First Wessex aims to improve the existing shops as well as provide a brand new and much improved North Town Base community facility. The plans include the provision of additional small shop units to benefit to the local community and help to stimulate and regenerate the shopping facilities on North Lane.
The North Town Base will be a significantly enlarged and improved community facility with dedicated meeting space, rooms for clubs and societies, office and administration as well as the storage in a modern and up-to-date building for a number of users and groups to utilise the facilities at the same time.
The new Base and for the shops in North Lane will be in the later phases of the project which will not commence until after 2013. Nearer the time, First Wessex will ensure there are temporary arrangements to enable community groups using the base to continue with minimal inconvenience.
In addition to the public events First Wessex has met with every affected resident and has produced the following leaflets for residents and community groups:
· General Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
· Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for First Wessex residents
· Having to Move? A leaflet that explains what home loss and disturbance payments will be paid to affected residents.
· A series of My North Town Newsletters
All of these leaflets can be downloaded from the website www.mynorthtown.net Or requested by calling the FREEPHONE number 0800 358 0459
The Design Team (Architects, Kenn Scaddan Associates; Planning Consultants, Gregory Gray Associates and Consultant Engineers, Upton McGougan) has involved all residents and community groups.
At the events residents, the wider community and community groups of North Town met with all concerned to help shape the future of this important renewal area. Following this, the MasterPlan for the estate was produced and forms the basis of a planning application on 17 July 2009.
First Wessex was formed in 2005. In 2010 the various organisations comprising the First Wessex Group, including Pavilion Housing Association, were fused into one organisation, first Wessex. The combined housing association now manages around 17000 affordable homes primarily in Hampshire and with some activity in Surrey. It has recently completed a public consultation of a similar size project and has demonstrated it skills in the area of regeneration. First Wessex is the largest provider of housing association homes for rent in the Aldershot, Farnborough, Ash and Farnham areas.
In partnership with Rushmoor Borough Council, First Wessex has the financial support, the planning, development and community consultation expertise to make this important renewal project a success – one to benefit the residents and community of North Town now and one that is sustainable for future generations.
For more information visit www.firstwessex.org
Rushmoor Borough Council has worked for many years for many years in partnership with First Wessex (formerly Pavilion Housing Association), following the large scale voluntary transfer of the housing stock in 1995. First Wessex is a preferred development partner with the Council and has delivered many affordable homes for rent and shared ownership with funding from the local authority and the Homes and Communities Agency. The Council has worked jointly with First Wessex and the local community on successful community development projects and works closely with the housing management team to ensure that their residents receive a good quality service from their landlord.
Kenn Scaddan Associates based in Portsmouth is the appointed architect for the scheme and has worked with First Wessex for many years on a wide variety of housing and mixed-use schemes.
The practice has been in existence for 25 years specialising in social housing and has developed an expertise in Urban Regeneration such as the My North Town project together with a significant number of commissions in the Health and Special Needs sectors.
Gregory Gray Associates, Farnborough-based Town Planning Associates has led urban renewal and affordable housing projects on behalf of public authorities and Housing Associations. The practice is working with the Architect and Rushmoor Borough Council Planning and Housing Departments to develop this important regeneration project. The Practice will be responsible for the coordination and submission of the planning application and assistance on the community consultation.
Upton McGougan, Highways and Drainage Consultants will advise on technical design and engineering details including working with the Highways Authorities, Thames and South East Water Authorities and the Environment Agency.
The Leadbitter Group, named ’Contractor of the Year’ in the 2009 Building Awards, has four operating regions in the UK:
South West and Wales Region, based in Bristol, Cardiff and Plymouth
· Central Region, based in Oxford and Coventry
· Southern Region based in Southampton
· Eastern Region based in Sittingbourne and London
With operations divided into two businesses, construction and affordable housing, company turnover is approximately £350 million per annum. The Company’s substantial expertise across all building sectors, combined with its proven leadership in the areas of corporate social responsibility, community engagement and environmental preservation, makes the Leadbitter Group a construction partner of choice. For more information, please visit http://www.leadbitter.co.uk.
