Groundbreaking programme to build new council homes in Flintshire – up for discussion today.

Plans for a groundbreaking programme to build new Council homes and affordable housing in Flintshire likely to be passed by Cabinet Members today.

Flintshire’s ambitious Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (SHARP) aims to build 500 new homes across the County over the next five years – among them will be approximately 200Council Homes.

If agreed at Cabinet tomorrow we could see the start of the new build by the end of this year. #excitingfuture

— bernie attridge (@bernieatto) March 16, 2015

The programme will start with the redevelopment of three sites – two urban and one rural. These are the cleared sites of the maisonettes in Flint with a mix of approximately 95 houses and apartments, the cleared site of the former Custom House School in Connah’s Quay, and a rural site in Leeswood.

A major procurement process is well under way to appoint a partner to develop the SHARP Programme. The four organisations currently in procurement discussions with the Council are: Galliford Try; Keepmoat; Lovell and Wates Living Space, with the successful bidder being announced in May 2015.

Alongside the procurement work, a Flintshire Housing Standard is being developed, which will inform the design and specification of the proposed new housing, including the consistency and good quality of the internal and external appearance, and standards of energy efficiency, as well as the importance of adequate parking.

The programme also includes future potential developments in other parts of the county, which would include homes for private sale and the construction of non-residential properties. Since a previous report to Cabinet last September, additional indicative sites across the county are now suggested for inclusion into the Programme, including the former Police Station and Magistrates Court in Flint and the former Ysgol Delyn School in Mold. Cabinet Members will be recommended to approve the inclusion of the new sites into the plan.

A further report will be made to Cabinet in May 2015, to report the results of the procurement process.

Councillor Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing said:

“It is extremely pleasing to see the SHARP programme progressing so well, as we move closer towards our goal of providing much needed affordable housing across the County. Not only that, but the proposed new developments will benefit local people by creating work and job opportunities for local businesses.”

Councillor Aaron Shotton, Leader of the Council said:

“I am pleased to announce this exciting opportunity to deliver upon this Councils priorities of providing new Council Homes, affordable housing – and jobs – for the people of Flintshire. With the Housing Revenue Account soon to become self financing, we are proud to be able to invest in affordable housing in this County and our recent announcement that the Council will invest a record £20M on improvements to existing Council homes demonstrates our commitment.”