SSH provides 9 families with a new home in Aller
27 June 2006

South Somerset Homes has provided nine families with a new home in Aller. Three old concrete houses were demolished and a mixture of two and three bedroom houses and a two-bedroom bungalow have been built. Seven are being offered for rent and two are being offered for shared ownership.

All of the properties, built by Yeovil builder Rok, have double-glazing, electric or gas central heating, a turfed back garden with a small patio as well as courtyard parking.

Pictured here are two of the new houses at Orchard Place in Aller

Margaret Brooks, a resident who had lived in one of the original concrete houses, admits that she was not very keen to be moved out temporarily and then moved back when the homes were completed.

“I was unsure and nervous when South Somerset Homes first spoke to us about knocking my house down, especially as I had lived in that house for over 48 years. However now that I am in my bungalow it was definitely worth the wait and I am quite simply ‘over the moon’.”

Jim and Jenny Slade, who also lived in one of the original houses, were also unsure about moving out of their home of over 40 years.

“It was quite a shock when it was first discussed, as all of our children were born in our old house and so it was very difficult to leave it. Now though, we are so pleased with our new house, it is absolutely lovely and we have a lovely sized garden that we can easily manage and enjoy.”

Pictured here from left to right are Sherilyn Carpenter (Housing Officer, SSH), Margaret Brooks (resident), Dexter Ballum (Site Manager, Rok), Jenny Slade (resident), and Jim Slade (resident)

Geoff Atkinson, Chief Executive at South Somerset Homes said, “ This was an unusually challenging project for us for two reasons. It is a major upheaval for the families but we also discovered early on that the building work was also a major upheaval for the very rare serotine bat, which roosted in the roof space of the old houses. This caused us considerable expense and delay but doing the right thing regarding the bats was never in question.

We thank the families for their patience whilst we sorted all that out and we are delighted that our residents have told us that it was worth the wait.

The outcome is that we have provided lovely new homes for both the families and the bats.” o