Local residents invited to 'meet the team'

Marks Gate residents have been invited to meet the team behind plans to build new housing on the land bordering the A12, east of Padnall Lake.

The meeting has been arranged by staff from Be First, who have taken on the project to construct some 200 new homes in the area for the council, in order to help tackle the borough's housing shortage. They aim to explain the work that has been done so far, introduce the architects, and involve residents in the design of the new homes and the improvements to the green spaces, particularly the Lake itself.

Matthew Westwood, Senior Development Manager for Be First, explains: "There's 163 families on the waiting list for council housing in Marks Gate alone, so we have been asked to see what we can do to address this problem. We believe there's the potential to build up to 200 new homes which will go a long way towards easing this borough-wide problem.

"But we want local residents to get involved in the design and, in particular, to help us improve the local environment and ecology, especially the Lake. Our meet the team event is the first of a number of opportunities for residents to find out more and see how they can get involved."

The Meet the Team event takes place Thursday 19th December, 12noon-3pm and 5-7pm, at Marks Gate Community Centre, Rose Lane, Marks Gate, RM6 5NR.