Southern Housing Group

01 September 2008

Summer fun at The West Village.  Pictured left to right:  Cllr Gul Khan, Angela Rea and her children George (3) and Charlie (4), new residents of The West Village with Caroline Tiller, Executive Director, James Butcher Housing Association; and Cllr Chris Maskell, who along with Cllr Khan represent Battle Ward (Reading Borough Council).

Last Saturday (30 August), the new residents of The West Village in Reading were at the centre of a community day held on the Green. The event was hosted by Southern Housing Group's community regeneration arm, Foundation Projects, and James Butcher Housing Association (JBHA).  JBHA is a subsidiary of Southern Housing Group and is managing the affordable housing within The West Village.  The event was supported by Barratt Thames Valley, the developer of the multi-million pound housing regeneration scheme, where on completion there will be 435 homes. To date some 33 families with 90 children have moved into the affordable housing at The West Village.  In total JBHA will provide 223 homes in a range of one, two and three bedroom apartments and two, three, four, five and six-bedroom houses.

The sun shone and around 150 residents and local people enjoyed the afternoon's activities.  Among the entertainment provided was a three-piece steel band.  Residents had the opportunity to learn circus skills; watch a street dance performance; enjoy a barbeque and participate in a prize draw.  The top prize of £1000 was donated by Barratt Thames Valley and was won by a family member of a James Butcher Housing Association resident.  Other prizes were donated by Foundation Projects and included a Wii and games won by Timothy Moloagaswe, and a Nintendo DS Lite and a game won by local resident, Sara Green.

Caroline Tiller, Executive Director of James Butcher Housing Association, said that she was delighted that the residents came along and participated in Saturday's event.

"I'm really pleased that our new residents have settled in and this informal event was an opportunity to get them together.  Southern Housing Group's community regeneration arm, Foundation Projects, made a significant contribution in developing community cohesion and is bringing together our new residents and the local organisations that will have a positive influence on their lives."

Local councillors, housing officers, the police and local education and representatives from social enterprises were invited to the community event and as a result a community project has been established to help ensure community cohesion.
"I really enjoyed myself today," said Angela Rea, who has moved into The West Village.  "I really like my new home and I think it's important that events like this happen and help us to come together."

Cllr Chris Maskell, the former Mayor of Reading Borough Council and councillor for Battle Ward, said: "I came along today to get to know my new constituents and as a local ward councillor I am keen to assist the residents where I can by helping them to develop a local community."

Michael O'Leary, managing director of Barratt Thames Valley said, "The new community at The West Village is growing; in addition to the affordable homes we also have around 36 private homes now occupied.  We were delighted to offer the Foundation Projects and James Butcher Housing Association the use of the green within The West Village and hope that everyone enjoyed themselves."

For more information please contact Karen Bermingham Communications Team on 020 7553 6479  communications@shgroup.org.uk

Notes for Editors

The West Village was the former site of the Battle Hospital.  When the regeneration is complete there will be a total of 435 homes.

James Butcher Housing Association Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Housing Group Ltd and provides a full range of housing services specialising in the provision of sheltered accommodation. JBHA owns and manages over 4,200 homes along the M4 corridor.  James Butcher Housing Association Ltd is a charitable and Industrial Provident Society No. 16602.

Southern Housing Group is one of Southern England's largest housing associations. Founded over 100 years ago, we own and manage 24,000 homes for more than 66,000 reresidents, employing more than 900 people and working with more than 80 local authorities.

Our activities centre on four key areas:

• The development of quality-affordable housing
• Housing and neighbourhood management
• A range of rent and home ownership
• Social investment

We believe that building communities is as important as building homes. So as well as developing and managing quality, affordable housing for rent and home ownership we  invest considerable resources to provide an environment where people really want to live.   Southern Housing Group Limited is a Charitable Industrial and Provident Society N No. 27412R.

Snapshot of social housing Shared ownership

In the process of being transferred to James Butcher Housing Association

Intermediate rent: not yet available;

Social rented properties: 33 rented out

Southern Housing Group offers three ways to access affordable housing at The West Village (called Sidmouth Square) in the brand-new Barratt Thames Valley development, West Village, Reading.

• New Build HomeBuy Scheme (shared ownership from Southern Housing Home Ownership)
• Intermediate rent - 20% cheaper than private rental rates and available for key workers) – managed by James Butcher Housing Association
• Social rent –  managed by James Butcher Housing Association

On completion of the scheme Southern Housing Group will provide 169 affordable homes on the Barratt site and 54 affordable homes on the adjacent Tesco’s site – 223 homes in total.

Southern Housing Home Ownership

Southern Housing Home Ownership is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Housing Group Ltd and it offers potential Sidmouth Square residents home ownership via the Government’s New Build HomeBuy scheme.  Local people can buy a brand-new 2 or 3 bedroom home at Sidmouth Square (via Southern Housing Home Ownership) and pay rent on the remaining share.  Should they wish they will be able to buy the remaining shares in steps “staircasing” until the resident owns the entire home.

Sidmouth Square Pricing Structure:

3 houses (out of a total of 8) currently available for sale on a shared-ownership basis.

In 2009/2010 there will be 36 x 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments for sale. - Intermediate rent

James Butcher Housing Association will be the managers of these properties. - 54 Apartments

Winterbrook House, Malsford Mews (above Tesco store)
38 X 1 bedroom apartments
16 X 2 bedroom apartments
30 Apartments
 
Name – to be agreed
(Barratt’s site)
11 X 1 bedroom apartments
19 X 2 bedroom apartments
Total 84 apartments for “intermediate” rent

Social rent
James Butcher Housing Association is managing 95 houses and apartments available for rent.
 
15  x 2 bedroom houses
23 x 3  bedroom houses
11 x 4 bedroom houses
2 x 5 bedroom houses
1 x 6 bedroom house
7 x 1 bedroom apartments
29 x 2 bedroom apartments
7 x 3  bedroom apartments