Published on 31st March 2011

Residents of Scott House and Edward Wilson House are looking forward to a new and improved look for their community after the start of the next stage of the extensive makeover of the area by Cheltenham Borough Homes (CBH).

After extensive consultation with residents, CBH had plans drawn up to make a number of improvements to the neighbourhood and the long awaited regeneration work has now begun.

Work has already started on the repairs to the concrete balconies and the contractors carrying out the landscaping of the external public areas are now on site and are due to start this week.

Launched in 2010 the Scott and Edward Wilson House Regeneration Project will see a large-scale transformation of the area including:

  • new community garden which will include clothes lines, seating areas, allotment areas and planting beds
  • new trees
  • new cycle stores and bin stores
  • improvements to the perimeter security
  • separation of the communal walkways to make each block secure
  • reinstatement of vehicle access onto Oldbury Road and Hester's Way Road

Paul Stephenson, assistant chief executive at CBH said:

"We listened to the views of the residents who were heavily involved with the production of the designs to regenerate the community they live in. The regeneration work being carried out will have a dramatic impact for the area by improving the look and feel of the communal spaces, improving security for residents, and making their community a more pleasant place to live now and in the future."

The physical improvement works will be completed by summer 2011. The regeneration work is being carried out by Mansell Construction and Halsall Construction.

In addition to the physical improvements, as part of CBHs' Scott and Edward Wilson House Regeneration Project, a Community Hub located at Edward Wilson House has opened its doors and now welcomes residents to drop-in every Wednesday from 11am to 3pm , and every Monday and Friday from 9am to 11am .

Visitors to the Hub can meet with CBH officers and partners and along with the opportunity to have their say, CBH has a dedicated Employment Initiatives Co-ordinator on hand to meet with residents and guide them into employment and training. A series of adult education classes, run in conjunction with Gloucestershire Adult Education, are also being held at the Hub.

ENDS

Notes for editors

Cheltenham Borough Homes:

  • CBH is one of the top rated ALMOs in the country, assessed as providing 'excellent services with excellent prospects for the future' by the Audit Commission.  
  • Currently CBH manage and maintain around 5,000 tenant and leasehold properties with an overall satisfaction level of 85%, placing them in the top ten ALMOs nationally. 
  • The organisation's approach to community development and participation; governance and equality and diversity has been recognised as good practice nationally. CBH has a ten year management agreement, which will run until 31st March 2020.
  • CBH continue to develop excellent services by working closely with customers.  It will include building new homes and continuing to regenerate communities whilst tackling issues of worklessness and addressing social enterprise.

For further information visit: www.cheltborohomes.org

Press contact: Catherine Best e: [email protected] t: 01242 775317