Council housing programme continues to meet its targets with 40 new homes

An additional 40 homes have been delivered for local people as Newark and Sherwood District Council enters the fourth year of its housing programme to deliver 335 new Council homes across the district in five years

Working in partnership with local construction company Robert Woodhead Limited, the new homes have been built across 13 different sites including Clipstone, Rainworth, Caunton, Sutton-on-Trent, Winthorpe, Farndon, Elston and Newark.

Despite contractors working under stringent COVID-19 safety measures over the past 16 months, the Council’s housing programme is on track with its plans and has so far delivered more than 160 new homes across 34 sites, including a mixed range of houses, bungalows and apartments.

Work on year four of the programme has now begun and contractors are currently on site at Boundary Road in Newark where four houses and four flats are set to be built close to the Fire Station. A new bungalow at Healy Close in Collingham is also under construction and there are plans to start on site at Ash Road and Churchill Drive in Newark shortly.

Plans for year four also include a range of new homes for Ollerton, Bilsthorpe, Blidworth, Southwell and Edwinstowe and work is scheduled to begin between August and September.

Councillor Tim Wendels, Chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Homes and Communities Committee, said: “Despite the setback of COVID-19 we are pleased that our five year housing programme is still on target so we can better meet the housing demand of local residents on our waiting list.

“New homes are being delivered across the whole district, including a variety of apartments, bungalows and family homes so everyone’s needs are met. Our housing team has been working hard to help tenants move in safely, on some occasions just 24 hours after the keys were handed over.”

The programme of work has been procured through EEM, a not-for-profit procurement consortium which aims to deliver best value for the public sector.

Tom Woodhead, Business Services Director at Robert Woodhead Ltd said: “As we step into the fourth year of this housing programme, in spite of the COVID complexities, it is exceptional to see we are on track to deliver the 335 planned new council homes across the district. The scheme was procured through EEM who have public sector interests at their core and support their members to source compliant, efficiently delivered, high quality products and services, and ensure they create a positive impact for local communities. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Newark & Sherwood District Council as we see the programme continue to advance over the coming years.”