Curo News

Next phase of Pride in Place

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:57:40 Z

Great news for our residents in Twerton and Whiteway. The next phase of the government’s Pride in Place Programme is being rolled out, bringing up to £20 million of funding to Twerton and Whiteway.

The article below from Bath and North East Somerset Council explains what to expect next and how members of the communities can get involved.

For more general information about the Pride in Place programme, search for ‘Pride in Place’ on the GOV.uk website.

Pride in Place is bringing up to £20 million of funding to Twerton and Whiteway to help improve opportunities for everyone over the next ten years. The programme is community-led and puts decision making in the hands of local people. Any member of the local community can get involved and play a part.

A new Neighbourhood Board will be set up to manage the programme and be champions of the local community. The board will be led by an independent chairperson following a competitive application process. The chairperson will be a part-time salaried position and the members of the board will be entitled to reasonable expenses

Work to bring Pride in Place to life will take place throughout the year, starting with a series of community events running from February 27 to March 8. These events will provide a space for the community to come together and explore ideas and ambitions for the project.

Events will take place at The Annex, Bath Foyer, a space made available with support from Housing Association Curo, with other activities held across the neighbourhood.

Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “We have written to all addresses in the area. If you get a letter, please spare a few minutes to read about Pride in Place and how you can get involved. It is an amazing opportunity for people who live and work in the area to make changes that will improve opportunities for everyone in Twerton and Whiteway. One of the first issues the board will be asked to look at is the project boundary. A change of boundary is fully supported by ward councillors who have been campaigning for Whiteway to be fully included.”

Councillor Paul Roper, Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, said “We strongly encourage the Twerton and Whiteway community to get involved at the upcoming events as well as the wider Pride in Place programme. Neighbourhoods and communities are not defined by lines on maps. They are formed of groups of people who have meaningful relationships and a shared sense of place, identity, or purpose. From residents to businesses, charities to clubs all are welcome to participate.”

Applications for the role of independent chairperson and expressions of interest for Neighbourhood Board positions will open in mid‑February. Anyone who is ‘from,’ living or working in the Twerton and Whiteway Ward; holds a prominent role in the community; or has a passion for the place, will be eligible to apply for the chairperson role or board positions when the application process opens.

People can sign up for alerts about the roles on the council’s jobs and careers website. Further details on the project are available on the regeneration pages of the council website.

Housing Summit 2025

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:19:55 Z

Bath & North East Somerset councillors pledge to work across party lines in UK first

The region’s housing crisis was under the spotlight, as more than 150 policymakers, activists and industry figures came together at the second annual Bath and North East Somerset Housing Summit.

The summit saw leaders from across the political spectrum commit to improve the supply of affordable homes in the area. Their signing of a first-of-its-kind housing accord establishes a commitment to work together, across party lines and beyond individual council terms, to create long-term change.

The commitment was signed against the backdrop of unprecedented housing costs and levels of homelessness in our region. Attendees heard that in some parts of Bath, average house prices stand at 18 times average salary. Renters on the open market can expect to spend about 40% of gross average earnings on housing.

The human cost of the housing crisis was a central theme of the event. Wayne Hemingway MBE, a passionate campaigner for affordable housing and founder of advocacy group, Housing Assembly, led a panel discussion of local young people priced out of housing in Bath.

He also read entries from the new Housing Assembly website, which was officially launched at the summit. The site, thehousingassembly.co.uk, offers a platform for people locked out of the housing system and collects evidence of its dysfunction to build the case for urgent change.

He shared Bethany’s story who, though she works, is forced to sleep in her car. She describes herself as a mentally vulnerable woman and says, despite her dire situation, has no hope of accessing social housing.

On signing the landmark housing accord, Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said:

“Only by working together and putting politics aside can we truly start to address a broken housing system. This accord is a turning point. It shows that no matter our political differences, the signatories are united in our commitment to deliver the right homes in the right places, for our communities across Bath & North East Somerset.

“We believe that through co-operation and innovation we can do our bit to urgently address the broken market and deliver more, truly affordable homes in our area. The housing crisis demands bold, long-term thinking—and today we’ve taken a major step forward together.”

The West of England Mayor, Helen Godwin, who also addressed the conference said:

“Tackling the housing crisis is not something any single organisation or political leader can achieve alone. By working together across authorities, and with government, we will build the right homes in the right places, with the services and infrastructure that local people need and deserve.

“We are already working with Homes England and Bath & North East Somerset Council to support work to deliver new homes at Bath Quays and along the Bristol to Bath strategic growth corridor. This new Housing Accord commits us all to further strengthen those partnerships, working together to solve this housing crisis.”

Reflecting on the success of the event, Victor da Cunha, CEO of Curo and Chair of the local Housing Mission Delivery Board, said:

"Bath & North East Somerset has become the first council in the country to sign a cross-party housing accord - we shouldn't underestimate the significance of that. The shared vision of eradicating the housing crisis and providing people with quality homes they can afford will also help to release the economic potential of our region."

Curo and B&NES collect award for outstanding workmanship at Woodland View in Hygge Park, Keynsham

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 16:39:55 Z

(image above - one of Curo's houses in Woodland View in Hygge Park, Keynsham)

Housing association and housebuilder Curo, jointly with the Local Authority Building Control Team at Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES), have been awarded a high commendation in the West of England regional division of the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence Awards.

The LABC Building Excellence Awards honour exceptional projects and individual achievements in the construction sector – focusing on the very best in technical innovation and construction quality. Falling under the ‘Best High-Volume New Housing Development’ category, this award recognises ‘outstanding construction and workmanship’ at Curo’s new development in Hygge Park, Keynsham.

Simon Collins, Construction Operations Director at Curo, said ‘We're thrilled and honoured to have received this award. At Curo, we put our residents first - right from the start and throughout all project phases. Receiving this award for outstanding construction and workmanship is a credit to our excellent construction and development teams, and highlights the care that we put into each phase of our developments.”

The scheme shortlisted, Woodland View, is a Curo development of 56 new homes in Hygge Park –a wider development of 250 homes. Curo purchased a parcel of land in 2019, from national developer Crest Nicholson and developed a mix of affordable and open-market new homes.

Of the total number of homes built, 12 were developed for affordable housing and 44 for open market sales. Additionally, Curo acquired every affordable home built in the wider Hygge Park development, including 6 flats for supported accommodation and 4 houses with wheelchair accessibility, delivering a total of 78 new, affordable houses, including 20 shared-ownership units and 58 for social rent.

Tintagel Close to be redeveloped by Curo

Mon, 23 May 2022 11:07:49 Z

Housing association Curo has announced its intention to demolish and redevelop a block of 44 maisonettes at Tintagel Close in Keynsham, following a prolonged period of consultation with residents of the estate.

Curo has been working with residents at Tintagel Close since 2018 to understand the work that would be needed to upgrade the buildings and provide homes that are suitable for the future.

Initially it was believed that homes at Tintagel Close could be refurbished while the residents remained in their homes. However, following more detailed surveys as well as new government legislation on fire and building safety and energy efficiency, Curo decided to re-evaluate the project. It was decided that the demolition and redevelopment of Tintagel Close would be the best long-term solution.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “The decision to proceed with the redevelopment of Tintagel Close was taken after careful consideration of all the options and following extensive consultation with residents who live there. It was always going to be impractical and extremely difficult to achieve the future standards of housing we, as a society, aspire towards – particularly from an environmental point of view – while the residents remained in their homes, and given the construction of the existing building. Our ambition now is to continue to engage with local residents to design homes that are fit for the future - homes that will be high quality in the broadest sense and that will fit in with their surroundings”.

Curo has been supporting residents at Tintagel Close over the past few months to find new homes in the local area and so far, 22 families have moved to a new property they have chosen.

Victor says: “We’ve put in place a complete support package for residents at Tintagel Close, including a dedicated liaison officer, funds to cover their moving costs and a one-off home loss payment. We will continue to work with families at Tintagel Close to help them find a new home they like, as we start to look to the future of the estate.”

Curo is now asking the local community to help shape plans for a future development. To take part, residents are invited to fill in this short survey by Sunday 5 June.

The feedback will help Curo design proposals for the site over the next few months. A second public consultation, in winter this year, will give local residents the opportunity to view and comment on the specifics of the project, including the number and appearance of homes and other details such as parking arrangements. Curo will use this further feedback to refine any proposals with a view to submit a planning application to Bath & North East Somerset Council early next year.

Residents living near the site and the wider community will be kept informed about the next steps at Tintagel Close including through updates via Curo’s website at www.curo-group.co.uk/tintagelclose-redevelopment.

Victor adds: “Our aim is to provide new affordable homes that meet local needs and integrate well within the existing neighbourhood. We’d really like to hear from residents at Tintagel Close and the local community in Keynsham about the future of this estate so we can understand what is important to them and use this knowledge in the design process.”

Youth football teams sport new strip thanks to Curo sponsorship

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 08:00:00 Z

Clutton’s youth football teams are sporting brand new kits after receiving a £3,000 sponsorship donation from housing association and housebuilder Curo.

Curo last year completed the Highbury Fields development of 36 new homes in the village, which included 21 affordable homes for social rent and shared ownership. The development has enabled many local people to put down long-term roots in the community near to family, schools and jobs.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’ve always believed that truly integrated, sustainable and happy neighbourhoods need more than just new homes. That’s because it’s the people, not the homes, that make it a great place to live.

“As a developer and housing association, we remain involved in local communities well after we build our homes, by providing a wide range of activities and services to support people and neighbourhoods - from tailored individual support for those needing a little extra practical help, to skills, training, employment advice and job opportunities. We also offer funding for community-led projects, such as the wonderful youth football club in Clutton.

"The club is very active, popular and successful locally, and doing a great job in helping families and kids to connect, socialise and keep healthy. We’re proud to be associated with them and to play a part in helping them to keep doing what they’ve been doing so well for a while. We hope that this donation helps them continue to go from strength to strength.”

Curo’s donation has enabled the club to purchase new Hummel kit including shirts, shorts and socks for all players from the under-7s, under-9s and under-11s teams, as well as 25 children from Reception and Year 1, also known as the ‘Mini Swans’. In addition, the club was able to purchase other much-needed equipment, including 40 new footballs and two goals for matches.

Clutton Football Club Chairman, Stuart Price, says: “We’re thrilled to have received this generous donation and really grateful to Curo for their support. Our young players are loving their new Curo-branded equipment and it’s great to see them looking the part on the pitch.

“Football is really important in our community, bringing together not only local children, but also their parents, grandparents and siblings. Our matches make for great fun days out for the whole family and Curo’s sponsorship will help us to continue this important work.”

Radstock residents get first look at redevelopment proposals for Walnut Buildings

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 08:47:32 Z

Around 70 people attended Curo’s public exhibition last week to see the proposals for the redevelopment of the land formerly occupied by Walnut Buildings.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 93% of survey respondents stating they support the redevelopment proposals as showcased, while the remainder were unsure.

Among the visitors’ favourite features were the layout of the scheme and home zone concept for the main road. There was also strong support for the design of the new homes, which were seen to complement the existing buildings and neighbourhood character.

Local residents also liked that the 32 homes proposed will be affordable, available through a mix of social rent and low-cost home ownership.

Many respondents commented positively about the sustainability features of the proposed homes, which will aim to achieve a minimum of 19% reduction in CO2 emissions using energy-efficient building materials, PV solar panels and air source heat pumps. Wildlife-enhancing features such as hedgehog highways and bird/bat/bee boxes were also popular.

Most visitors agreed that the proposals will lead to an improvement in the appearance of the area.

One visitor said: “The houses look as though they will be attractive; it will be a good mix of properties” while another commented: “It is a shame that the commercial builders do not adopt some of these practices.”

Ward councillors Bruce Shearn and Chris Dando were also present at the event.

Cllr Shearn says: “This is a great opportunity for Curo and our town to regenerate the area in keeping with the wider neighbourhood while providing modern and energy-efficient affordable homes.

“I know that there will be more tweaks and changes to the scheme, not least because of feedback received from residents during this public consultation, but I think Curo’s plans look great and could really transform this part of town for the better. I look forward to seeing the homes built and welcoming their new residents over the next couple of years.”

Cllr Dando says: “It was great to meet with local residents at the public exhibition last week and hear what they had to say about the proposed redevelopment. Curo’s designs show a well-thought-out scheme that could really benefit both existing residents and those families who may live in these new homes in the future.”

North East Somerset MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg, commented: "Curo has clearly listened to residents and is offering attractive, traditional housing that is affordable and in keeping with Radstock’s history."

Local residents can still view and comment on the proposals here by Friday 24 September. Curo will take this feedback into consideration when refining the plans, before submitting a planning application to B&NES Council in late autumn.

Curo launches community consultation over the future of Walnut Buildings site

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 10:48:01 Z

Housing association and housebuilder Curo hope to build new, high-quality housing on the Walnut Buildings site in Radstock and are asking the local community to help shape plans for a future development.

To take part, local residents are invited to fill in this short survey: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/walnut-buildings.

The feedback will help Curo design initial proposals for the site over the next few months. A second public consultation will give local residents the opportunity to view and comment on the specifics of the project, including site layout, number and tenure of homes and other details such as parking arrangements.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We really want to hear from local people about the future of this site and understand what’s important to them to help inform our early thinking.

“We know that news about the redevelopment of Walnut Buildings has been well received by the community and we’re looking forward to working alongside local residents to explore what’s possible.

“This is an exciting opportunity to create some good quality, modern homes which meet local needs and integrate well within the existing neighbourhood and it’s important to hear from the community during our planning phase.”

To make way for the new homes, Walnut Buildings are to be taken down from mid-April. The demolition works are expected to last four weeks.

Over the past few months Curo have been working with contractor L.A. More to prepare the site. The works so far have included removal of heating systems, bathrooms and kitchens and disconnecting gas, electricity and water supplies.

The buildings will be taken down one by one in a controlled and considerate manner, with each block being demolished fully before moving on to the next. Specialist plant will be used to carefully remove roofs and walls and dig up the foundations.

Schoolchildren bury time capsule in Midsomer Norton to mark start of construction of new Curo affordable homes

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 16:35:44 Z

Pupils from Somervale School today buried a time capsule on the site of a new development delivered by Curo and contractor E G Carter.

The time capsule was buried as part of a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of construction works at St Chads Green in Midsomer Norton, where 16 new affordable homes will be built by the end of the year.

Children were invited to provide items for the time capsule, which will remain underground for at least 30 years. Among the things they buried were a signed uniform tie in their school colours, pictures, letters describing life in 2019, their predictions for the future and a copy of Midsomer Norton Life magazine.

The new homes represent an investment by Curo of almost £2m and are being delivered in partnership with Homes England, who provided funding of £480,000 and Bath & North East Somerset, who have awarded a further £200,000 grant.

The development includes a mix of 15 houses with two, three and four bedrooms and a one-bedroom apartment. Four of the new homes will be available to buy via Shared Ownership, while the other 12 will be let at affordable rents to local people currently on the local authority’s housing waiting list.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’re very excited to start building works with contractor EG Carter today at our new affordable development, where more local families will soon benefit from a secure, long-term home.

“Regeneration projects like this give us the opportunity to create high-quality affordable homes in key areas of towns and cities and we look forward to welcoming the new residents at St Chads Green later this year.

The 16 new family homes are replacing a former sheltered accommodation scheme of 23 flats, increasing the number of people to be housed at St Chads Green by 33 and responding to the greatest pressures on the housing list – which show that the highest demand for affordable housing in the local area is for family homes.

Bath & North East Somerset Council cabinet member for Economic and Community Regeneration, Councillor Paul Myers said: “As mayor of Midsomer Norton I am especially pleased to see this development break ground. Midsomer Norton is a great place to live and it’s fantastic that Curo, with support from the local authority and central government, are delivering a 100% affordable housing scheme here.

“This development will make a big difference to the local families who will move in at the end of the year, as they’ll be able to put down roots in a brand-new, modern and efficient home in an area they love.”

Joanna Postlethwaite, Headteacher of Somervale School, said: “The children were delighted to get involved in the event today and worked hard to put together a selection of items for the time capsule that will provide an historic snapshot of our school and town.

"We’re very pleased that 16 new families will get the chance to move to this great area soon and look forward to welcoming their children to our school.”