South Somerset Homes build in partnership with Connaught 7 new affordable homes in Curry Rivel
9 January 2006

South Somerset Homes has recently completed building 7 new affordable homes at Chatham Rise in Curry Rivel. The project, which is a regeneration of an existing site owned by South Somerset Homes, was originally 2 old concrete houses and 11 garages, which have been knocked down and replaced with the 7 new homes.

The homes were constructed using cutting edge building technology. The main body of the home (structural walls, roofing and flooring) was supplied by Frame UK, with main contractor Connaught completing the internal fitting out and external cladding. As a result of using cutting edge technology the project was completed in 21 weeks compared to 40 weeks. This allowed the new tenants to move in 19 weeks earlier than they would have done if they had built these homes using traditional building techniques.

The homes are a mixture of 2 and 3 bedroom houses with 2 of the 3 bedroom houses being built on 3 storeys. South Somerset Homes, the Housing Corporation and South Somerset District Council have jointly funded the project with a total build cost of £780,000.

Some of the houses have an en-suite bathroom with all of them having double-glazing, electric heating, turfed back gardens and a small patio and shed in the rear garden as well as a parking space near to the property and generally higher space standards than most house builders.

Lesley Reeves and her 3 sons Charlie (aged 15 years), Liam (aged 11 years) and Ben (aged 6 years) have moved into one of the 3 storey homes, which has an en-suite bedroom on the top floor. Lesley and her family were living in privately rented accommodation in Curry Rivel.

Lesley Reeves is thrilled with her new home, “I am absolutely ecstatic with my new home; it means everything to me. It sounds silly but it has given me my life back and I cannot thank South Somerset Homes and especially Sherilyn Carpenter enough for all that they have done.”

Pictured here is left to right is Liam Reeves (aged 11 years), Sherilyn Carpenter (Housing Officer, SSH), Lesley Reeves (Resident), Brendon Schooling (Site Manager, Connaught), Charlie Reeves (15 years), Ben Reeves (aged 6 years) outside their new home at Chatham Rise in Curry Rivel.

Sherilyn Carpenter, Housing Officer at South Somerset Homes said, “The garage area on which we have built these new homes had problems in regards to anti social behaviour. By building the new homes on this site we have been able to eliminate this problem and more importantly offer 7 local families a new home.”

Geoff Atkinson, Chief Executive at South Somerset Homes said, “We are here to meet the communities’ needs for quality affordable homes. The quality affordable homes that we have built in Curry Rivel have been given to families who come from Curry Rivel meaning that when we say local we really mean local.”

The next phase of this development is due to start shortly. The plan for Phase 2 is to build 17 new homes, which will be a mixture of 2 and 3 bedroom houses, 2-bedroom bungalows and 1-bedroom flats. These will be a mixture of tenure with some being for rent and some for shared ownership and will also be offered to local people.