In an environment where housing associations look to ‘add value’ at every opportunity, Pobl have teamed up with builder Ixion Developments to create a host of added benefits for a local community, situated on the doorstep of Pobl’s new housing development is currently being built on the former Blackwood junior school.
Neil Taylor, Senior Project Manager, Pobl Group said: “Pobl are a key economic player in South Wales, not only as a landlord and developer but in our wider role as an investor in the generation of local communities”.
“In close partnership with Ixion Developments and Caerphilly County Borough Council, we are delighted to be bringing much needed affordable homes to Blackwood, as well as a range of additional benefits identified by both the local school and girl guide troop”.
“We are also passionate about using welsh contractors and local suppliers and together have created a range of training and apprenticeship opportunities for over 20 local people.”
The added benefits include the boarding up and imminent demolition of a local disused girl guide hut, that had been the catalyst for considerable anti-social behaviour, and the donation and subsequent erection of a new fence around the periphery of Blackwood Comprehensive School’s football pitch, helping to preserve it’s condition and discourage trespassing.
Cllr David Poole, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing at Caerphilly County Borough Council, added “The development on the former junior school site is an excellent example of how partnership working is helping to deliver much needed affordable housing for residents in the Caerphilly county borough. The council’s partnership with Pobl is seeing a significant investment being made in the Blackwood area currently and it’s pleasing to see this investment being used to create jobs and training opportunities, as well as benefitting local community projects.”
What attracted Ixion to this particular community benefits opportunity was fourfold. Huw Jones, Managing Director of Ixion Developments said “ Firstly, that it would genuinely benefit the whole community. Secondly, that it would support the school’s healthy living agenda for the pupils by ensuring that their “team sports” playing surface could be kept in optimum condition by controlling access to it via the PE department and thirdly, that it provides a much needed security enhancements to the school premises, in support of their existing CCTV system, and finally that it also minimises the opportunity for truancy through restricting the number of potential egress points for students from the school premises.”
Pobl are currently developing a range of 30 new affordable homes on the site of the former Blackwood junior school. The homes on the £3m development will be ready Spring 2017 and are available for outright sale, shared ownership and for rent.
The housing development forms part of an overall investment of £16m in the Blackwood area by the Council and Pobl Group.
Article added: 14th February 2017
