90 flats to replace ageing maisonettes (From Malvern Gazette)

90 flats to replace ageing maisonettes

9:00am Monday 11th February 2013 in News By Robert Hale

A HOUSING association says residents who are moved out of their homes for a £1 million regeneration project will have first refusal on the new flats when work is completed.

The project involves demolishing 48 ageing maisonettes in Pickersleigh Grove, Malvern, and building about 90 new units on the site.

Some of the new flats will be sold to help finance the project and the rest will remain with Festival Housing as social housing.

Residents had said they were worried about being moved out and not being able to return once work was finished.

Duncan Smith of Festival said: “The existing housing dates back to the late 40s or early 50s and was originally built with a 25-year lifespan in mind.

“That lifespan has been more than doubled. The houses are very energyinefficient, and it would cost us millions to bring them up to date. By spending much less money, we can replace them with modern sustainable housing.”

But Mr Smith said about 60 per cent of the new units will be retained by Festival, and existing tenants will have first refusal on moving back in.

He said: “We will have to find the residents alternative accommodation while we carry out the work, and our experience is that some will want to move back, and others will decide to stay in their new accommodation.”

Festival recently held a consultation evening for local residents to explain the plan.

Mr Smith said: “I think there was a positive reaction to the proposals. It costs a lot to heat the existing accommodation and many residents like the idea of lower heating bills.”

If all goes well, Festival is hoping to submit a planning application later this year, with work starting on the site in summer 2014.