New homes and better green spaces will be massive boost for Marks Gate
The council approved plans from Be First to build affordable new homes at Marks Gate on 30 November.
The members of the planning committee voted to support the application for permission to build the first phase of 81 high quality, affordable homes for the council, and approved the construction of up to 219 more in principle.
They also agreed to a number of conditions which would see added benefits coming to the community including a contribution towards improving local bus services and a commitment that a minimum of 25 per cent of labour and suppliers required for the construction are from within the borough to maximise opportunities for local residents and businesses.
Councillor Cameron Geddes, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Social Housing, said: “This is great news for the thousands of people on the council’s housing list. It will provide desperately needed homes for local people at rents they can afford.
“In addition to the new homes the development will provide a brand new park, orchards and improved access to a lake which will provide a green open space residents can enjoy.”
The other main features of the plan are:
- 100 per cent of the new homes will be affordable homes with rents starting at £159 a week
- top environmental standards – with solar panels and lots of insulation to keep fuel bills low, and
- use of modern construction methods to speed up the building process and minimise inconvenience to existing residents.
- creation of an attractive linear park with a range of uses – from adventure play areas to orchards
- upgrade the lake and the area around the lake to increase biodiversity and to make it more accessible for everyone, especially elderly and disabled people.
The plans will now be submitted to the Mayor of London, and his team will scrutinise the application and give a final decision early next year.
Further details here.
