Bath MP Ben Howlett visited Curo’s flagship development at Mulberry Park this week to see the housing association’s progress in delivering much-needed new homes for the city.
The local MP was accompanied on the site visit by B&NES Council leader Tim Warren and Curo Chief Executive Victor da Cunha.
Mulberry Park is a major investment by housing and support organisation, Curo. The development of the brownfield site will deliver 700 high quality, energy efficient homes – of which 30% will be affordable housing – a new primary school and nursery, a community hub, a park and public open spaces. During the development, the local economy will benefit from construction jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities.
On site, Ben Howlett MP saw the new townhouses that will line the central avenue into the scheme, built using local materials including Bath stone. The roofs have been completed on several of the new homes and the first residents will move into new homes at Mulberry Park in Spring 2017.
Ben Howlett MP said: “It was great to visit Mulberry Park today and see the impressive progress on site. These new homes will provide opportunities for many people wishing to get on the housing ladder and bring back into use a formerly derelict brownfield site.”
Mulberry Park will make a significant contribution to meeting the need for more than 12,000 new homes across the Bath area by 2029, identified in the council’s core strategy.
Affordable homes for local families
30% of the new homes at Mulberry Park will be for social rent or shared ownership. Curo is delivering these affordable homes without any central government grant, reinvesting the profits generated by selling homes on the open market.
Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha said: “We’re a business with a social mission at its heart, committed to providing affordable housing in Bath. As a registered charity and social landlord, we deliver profit for purpose. We build and sell homes, but unlike a private developer we don’t distribute the profits to shareholders; instead, we reinvest the funds in providing more affordable homes for local families. We’re working with and investing in the neighbourhood for the long term to provide warm, secure homes, outstanding community facilities and open spaces to residents in Mulberry Park and Foxhill for the benefit of the whole area.”
Community benefits
On the visit, Ben Howlett MP saw the spot where The Beacon will be built. The £10M community hub, primary school and nursery is ten times larger than the requirement set out in the planning consent and is being funded by Curo. It is due to open in 2018.
The local MP also had the opportunity to meet one of the apprentices working on site. Engineering apprentice, Kieran has been gaining valuable experience working on Curo construction sites at Devizes and Mulberry Park. Together with apprenticeships, Curo is also providing work placements and educational placements with Bath College and our contractors, and offering employability support to local people.
National status
Mulberry Park, alongside the proposed regeneration of the Foxhill estate, was designated as a Housing Zone by central government in 2015. In October 2016, B&NES Council approved a Charter setting out its shared ambitions for the Housing Zone with Curo and the local community.
Victor da Cunha said “The Foxhill Housing Zone is a scheme of national and local significance. We’re delighted that the first new homes as part of that scheme are nearing completion. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to create new homes and a long term sustainable future for Foxhill.”
Pictured above: Curo Chief Executive Victor da Cunha, Ben Howlett MP and Gerraint Oakley Managing Director of Curo Homes at Mulberry Park
