- Demolition of 1970s Keynsham estate officially underway
- £16 million investment in new neighbourhood of affordable homes due for completion in 2028
It was a dramatic day of action in Keynsham, as demolition of the Tintagel Close estate got underway.
The long-anticipated work signals the start of a journey that will completely transform this site, replacing the 1970s block with a new neighbourhood of 45 high-quality affordable homes.
Curo confirmed back in 2021 that there were no viable options for Tintagel’s refurbishment. Now, clearly at the end of its life, the dated building is being skilfully dismantled by our partner on the project, E G Carter.
Tintagel Close, with its inward-looking courtyard design, was poorly integrated with the wider community. When it came to planning its replacement, Curo wanted to make sure that the voices of local people were centre stage – engagement with them has been ongoing since the first days of the project in 2022.
Sarah Maylor, Curo’s Director of Development, said,
“We’re a not-for-profit, which means we’re led by our values. That’s why we’re investing £16 million here - we care about this community and want it to be a great place to live.”
Matthew Vye, Residential Director at E G Carter, said,
“This is a significant moment for Keynsham and for everyone involved in the project. We’re proud to be delivering the works on behalf of Curo, helping to replace a building that had reached the end of its lifespan with a development that will provide high-quality, affordable homes for generations to come.”
Curo envisages a new neighbourhood that enhances the local area, and one that’s better connected to adjacent green space, which Tintagel's design was unsympathetic towards. This will be complemented by landscaping across the site and community facilities, including a new play area.
The design of the new 100% affordable scheme responds directly to the needs of the area. It will offer a range of different homes, from one-bed flats to four-bed family houses, each with its own parking space and electric vehicle charging provision.
The homes will also be packed with the latest energy-efficiency technology, including air source heat pumps, solar energy and heat recovery systems. Together they guarantee an EPC ‘A’ rating for all 45 properties – the highest standard achievable.
34 of the homes will be available for subsidised social rent, significantly below the market rate. These will be offered through Bath & North East Somerset Council’s lettings system, HomeChoice. The remaining 11 will be available for shared ownership purchase.
