Housing officers at Gloucester City Council have helped ‘broker’ major investment that will see 56 new homes built on the St Oswald’s Market Park.

 

They have worked with the Homes and Community Agency (HCA) to secure investment of more than £3 million, for developer Persimmon Homes to develop high quality affordable homes in the area.

 

The HCA’s investment will help unlock the stalled development, which will see 41 family homes and 15 apartments built on the site.

 

Work on the ‘affordable homes’ is due to start in the summer and should be completed by the spring of 2011.

 

The site used to be a bleak and depressing area of brownfield land but has now been transformed into a high quality, successful and thriving new urban quarter. Private housing and an innovative Extra Care Village for older people also make up the overall development together with shops, food and drink units and leisure facilities.

 

Philip Staddon, the city council’s director of regeneration, commented: “ St. Oswald’s Park has been a huge success for Gloucester. It continues to play a significant role in providing quality homes and new jobs.

 

“Our staff have helped to bring this scheme to a successful completion and it shows the contribution the council makes to turning Gloucester into a thriving twenty first century city.”

 

The HCA investment has been provided through the National Affordable Housing Programme, set up to deliver affordable homes across England.

 

Colin Molton, regional director at the HCA, said: “We are pleased that this important development is able to progress, thanks to the work of all the partners on the project.

 

“Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to providing new and affordable homes for communities in need.

 

“This development is in a priority regeneration area for Gloucester and will build on the strong progress that the area has made in recent times. We look forward to seeing the homes completed, and the area improved.”