The first 20 new-build homes in the ground-breaking Beech Hill regeneration scheme are nearing completion.
A partnership of organisations, including Calderdale Council, Together Housing and Esh Construction, are working with the local community to transform the Beech Hill area of Halifax, supporting thriving towns and places.
This involves building 106 new affordable homes and refurbishing 70 existing homes as part of the Calderdale and Together Housing Investment Partnership, which aims to deliver up to 650 new affordable homes across Calderdale between 2018 and 2023.
Work to build the new homes at Beech Hill started in late 2020. The first 20 new homes for affordable rent are due to be fully completed in April 2023, and will be advertised and allocated through the Keychoice website: https://keychoice.housingapplications.co.uk(external link)
A video on site at Beech Hill is available to watch here: https://youtu.be/KIHF3tQb7Eo(external link)
The remaining 86 homes will be completed in three stages, starting in late summer. All development work is due to be complete by early 2024.
Cllr Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Resilience, said:
“Nearing completion of the first new homes is a landmark moment for the Beech Hill transformation project. The longstanding ambition to regenerate the area is becoming a reality thanks to great partnership working through the Beech Hill Project Board and the Calderdale and Together Housing Investment Partnership. Overcoming the challenges of the site’s landscape, the pandemic and the cost of living crisis to deliver these homes is an amazing achievement.
“We’re ambitious for our local communities, and through the Vision 2024 for Calderdale we want to give them the best opportunities to live a better life in Calderdale. Providing good-quality, affordable homes within walking distance of Halifax town centre helps to reduce inequalities, brings an unused site back into use, complements the wider investment in the surrounding area, and supports our priority for thriving towns and places across the borough.
“I’m particularly impressed that climate action has been built into the design of the new homes and the refurbishment of the existing homes, through a range of energy-efficiency and active travel measures. This will help tackle the climate emergency by contributing to Calderdale’s ‘net zero carbon by 2038’ target.”
Work to renovate the 70 existing homes at Beech Hill is well underway, with all new windows and doors being fitted and most of the new insulated roofs, thermal cladding and drainage work completed before Christmas 2022. Boundary treatments, resurfacing and repairs to walkways will take place when all other external works have been finalised.
Together Housing Group Director of Development, Hilary Brady, said:
“We’re delighted to mark this major milestone in the Beech Hill project. Through working with our partners, not only is this development bringing much-needed affordable housing to this part of Halifax, but it will also help to address the borough’s wider objectives to reduce inequalities, develop a thriving town and take climate action.
“As well as our funding partners Homes England and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, I’d also like to thank the residents we work with on the Beech Hill project board. Their feedback has been vital and they have helped us to maintain a strong relationship with the community. We look forward to seeing the remaining homes completed during the year.”
Simon Woodward, Operations Director at Esh Construction, added:
“The Beech Hill development represents real change for the community and partnership working at its very best. As a local contractor, we have maximised the benefits of our local supply chain by re-investing more than £8.1 million into the Yorkshire region to date throughout the scheme. While this site has presented a number of challenges, we are proud to reach this key milestone and hand over 20 new homes for local people to start their next chapter.”
The new homes represent an investment of nearly £23 million into the area, and the scheme was named Residential Development of the Year (in the ‘more than 100 homes’ category) at the Insider Yorkshire Property Industry Awards 2022.
£2.197 million was secured from Leeds City Region Enterprise in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Leeds City Region Growth Deal; this was from a £1 billion package of Government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across the region. Five of the new homes will include bespoke adaptations to meet the needs of families with disabilities, funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant.
The £2.76 million upgrade to existing homes has seen investment from Calderdale Council, Together Housing, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s Getting Building Fund and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Estate Regeneration Scheme, and contributions from private landlords. Further funding was secured through the Green Homes Grant to provide solar panels for qualifying households in suitable homes.
The year 2024 marks Calderdale’s 50th birthday. Where do we want to be by 2024? Get involved with the debate on Twitter with #VisionCdale2024 and find out more at www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision(external link)