Curo News

New blue plaque celebrates Bert Abrams

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:38:04 Z

Curo is delighted to help honour the work of Knowle West community hero, Bert Abrams. A blue plaque, recently unveiled by Deputy Lord Mayor of Bristol, Cllr Andrew Varney, as part of a new affordable housing development, celebrates his decades-long commitment to youth work.

The blue plaque stands at the entrance to Curo’s 100% affordable Broad Plain development and the newly dedicated Bert Abrams Close. The site was previously the home of Broad Plain Boys’ Club, of which Bert was a leading light.

Arthur “Bert” Abrams MBE (1912-1995) was a passionate advocate for young people and dedicated his life to improving their lives. His commitment to the Broad Plain club was truly remarkable – serving in various roles from 1926 to 1978. He was also instrumental in setting up a number of other youth clubs across the city.

Bert also served with distinction on Bristol City Council and represented Hengrove Ward as a Labour councillor for 27 years. Bert’s youth work was recognised with an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of 1976.

We’re delighted to help celebrate Bert’s amazing story and would like to thank Bristol Civic Society and Filwood Chase History Society for helping to make it happen.

The new development offers 47 affordable homes for the local community and comprises one, two and three-bedroom flats, maisonettes and houses, 31 of them offered for shared ownership purchase.

Works to start at £16 million affordable housing development in Bristol

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 09:19:46 Z

Image above: CGI of the 70-home development that will be delivered by Curo in Bishopsworth

Housing association Curo will start works this August to build 70 new affordable homes in Bishopsworth, Bristol, after securing planning consent for the site earlier this year.

Curo will work with contractor Vistry Partnerships at the £16.4 million development to deliver a mix of apartments and houses with one, two and three-bedrooms on one of the last remaining undeveloped plots of land of the former Imperial Tobacco Factory.

The scheme will provide 12 homes for social rent, 29 homes for affordable rent and another 29 homes for sale through the low-cost homeownership scheme, shared ownership.

The new homes will be fitted with air source heat pumps, a low maintenance and more environmentally friendly alternative to gas boilers. Homes for social and affordable rent will also feature photovoltaic solar panels, helping to reduce the future residents’ carbon footprint and energy bills. Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points will be available around the new neighbourhood, which will also feature a central area of green open space with trees, shrubs and natural wood play equipment.

Curo’s investment of just over £12 million will be completed with money from its Homes England strategic partnership grant allocation as well as a £700,000 grant from Bristol City Council.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’re looking forward to building another 70 new affordable homes for local people in Bristol, where we’re already delivering nearly 300 homes across a number of development sites currently.

“This sustainable development will make a significant contribution towards a low carbon future for Bristol, while helping more families to live in high-quality homes either through affordable homeownership or life-long tenancies. The homes will also cost less to run, helping to tackle fuel poverty – especially important in these uncertain times with skyrocketing energy prices.”

With works beginning this month, Curo is looking to name the new development that will take shape over the next couple of years.

Victor says: “We’d really like to hear from local people about a name for our new housing development – we’re keen to choose an idea that celebrates the local area and its history and you can find out more about how to get involved and submit your suggestions at www.curo-group.co.uk/imperial-park.”

Bristol City Council Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes, Councillor Tom Renhard, says: “Our city continues to be gripped by the national housing crisis leaving many people without a safe and secure place to live. We must build more homes in the right places if we’re to meet the needs of the city and move people out of temporary accommodation.

“Bristol City Council is committed to building more affordable homes, quicker – that’s why, aside from our own building programme we’re also supporting our housing association partners with grants to help accelerate delivery of these much-needed new homes.

“I’m really pleased Curo is using this brownfield site to provide another 70 new sustainable and affordable homes for Bristol, helping to lift and improve the area for existing residents too, and drive investment in the local economy.”

Vistry Partnerships West Managing Director, Marc Thompson, says: “We’re delighted to work with Curo on this new development, building a wide choice of high-quality affordable homes in Bristol. This is an exciting opportunity to deliver a sustainable new community, with homes fit for the future that are more environmentally friendly and will lower costs for the families who’ll move here in a couple of years.”

All 70 homes are due to be completed by spring 2024.

Homes for social and affordable rent will be let through Bristol City Council’s Home Choice system, while shared ownership properties will be sold by Curo, who are encouraging people to register their interest at sales@curo-group.co.uk.

Bristol and South Gloucestershire councillors break ground on new affordable housing scheme

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 14:32:08 Z

From R to L: South Gloucestershire Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Strategic Infrastructure, Councillor Steve Reade, Bristol City Council Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes, Councillor Tom Renhard, Curo Deputy Managing Director of Housebuilding, Sarah Maylor, Clayewater Homes Land Director, Paul Madge, and Clayewater Homes Managing Director, Brian Webber.

Housing association Curo and contractor Clayewater Homes have officially started works to build 20 new affordable homes on the site of a former car garage at Soundwell Road in Bristol.

The £5.3 million brownfield development will deliver six homes for social rent and 14 homes for sale through the low-cost homeownership scheme, shared ownership.

The site straddles the administrative boundary between two local authority areas, with the official start of works being marked by Bristol City Council Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes, Councillor Tom Renhard, and South Gloucestershire Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Strategic Infrastructure, Councillor Steve Reade.

Councillor Tom Renhard, Bristol City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes, says: “I’m delighted to break ground today with Curo on this site which will help more people in Bristol to move into energy efficient, modern affordable homes. Housing associations are key partners in building new homes for Bristol and we’re working with Curo on a number of other developments across the city where we’re supporting delivery of new affordable housing with grant funding.”

Councillor Steve Reade, cabinet member with responsibility for new housing at South Gloucestershire Council, says: “It is a pleasure to mark the start of this exciting scheme which will deliver high-quality, affordable housing within South Gloucestershire. Having a safe and secure, affordable home is a fundamental need for everyone, which is why we are delighted to be partnering with Curo to help even more of our residents have access to this type of home.

“We have a strong track record of affordable housing delivery, with South Gloucestershire regularly delivering more than 40 per cent of all new affordable homes in the West of England region built each year, as a result of us working with our housing association partners and developers.”

Featuring solar panels which will help to reduce future residents’ electricity bills, the one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes are being delivered thanks to a Curo investment of just under £4 million, alongside funding from the government’s housing agency, Homes England, and other grants totalling more than £1.3 million.

Curo Deputy Managing Director of Housebuilding, Sarah Maylor, says: “Bristol, like many other cities, towns and villages in our region, needs more good quality affordable housing and we’re pleased to play our part, alongside contractor Clayewater Homes, in building the homes local people need.

“Developments like this one at Soundwell Road can deliver much-needed inner-city regeneration of brownfield sites, helping to lift the area and provide new homes for local families at the same time. We’re working on other similar sites in Bristol, at Lawrence Weston, Old Market, Bishopsworth and Filwood and we’re always looking for new opportunities to build more affordable homes for local people.”

Homes at Soundwell Road are due to be completed by the end of 2023.

Housing association Curo and contractor Jehu inspire Bristol’s next generation of builders

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 06:45:04 Z

More than 60 children from Oasis Academy Bank Leaze in Lawrence Weston, Bristol, visited the nearby affordable housing development at The Willows to learn about construction in a fun-filled session organised by housing association and housebuilder Curo and contractor Jehu Group.

Children from Nursery and Reception had the opportunity to see how plant machinery works, including a crane raising timber frames and excavators digging foundations for the new homes. They also learnt about roofs, what they’re made of and how they are installed on new build homes.

But by far the children’s favourite activity was trying their hand at bricklaying, with help from contractor DTM Brick N Stone. Every pupil had the chance to help build a brick wall, with varying degrees of success.

Oasis Academy Bank Leaze teacher, Mrs Georgina Fitz-Gerald, says: “This has been such a fantastic activity for the children, and we’re grateful to Curo and Jehu for helping us to inspire future generations of professionals as part of the current term’s Early Years Foundation Stage topic, ‘when I grow up’.

“The trip was a great opportunity for children to learn about the different construction trades involved in building a house in a practical way, outside of the traditional classroom setting. Pupils and teachers alike, we’ve all had a brilliant day and I’m sure we’ll be talking about it for months to come!”

Curo is currently building 57 new affordable homes with contractor Jehu Group at The Willows development, at Corbet Close in Lawrence Weston, Bristol.

Curo Deputy Managing Director of Housebuilding, Sarah Maylor, says: “It was wonderful to welcome pupils from Oasis Academy to our development to show them the fun side of construction in a safe environment. We loved seeing them engage with all the hands-on activities and hope that we’ve been able to stir up their interest in these highly skilled and very rewarding trades that make up the housebuilding sector.”

Jehu Group Site Manager for The Willows, Tomasz Magiera, says: “We’re delighted to work with Curo at The Willows in Lawrence Weston – together we’re not just building new homes, but also investing in the local economy and skills and supporting communities.

“It was great to see so many young children getting excited about construction and we’re pleased that we were able to put a smile on their faces and make this experience possible for them.”

This is the third time Curo and Jehu Group have partnered with Oasis Academy Bank Leaze. Not long after the start of construction works at The Willows, the pupils took part in a drawing and painting competition, with their artwork now proudly displayed on the construction site’s hoardings. More recently, Curo and Jehu Group created a sensory garden for the school, to help promote the pupils’ wellbeing and mental health.

Curo launch a show home like no other at Century Park development in Bristol

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 12:58:08 Z

A unique show home full of character and colour has opened its doors at Curo’s residential development of 128 new homes in Lawrence Weston, Bristol.

The two-bedroom, mid-terrace ‘Westbury’ show home features unique artwork created by West Country and Bristol-based artists such as Helen Chester and Andy Council. Helen created two abstract paintings for the show home’s lounge and master bedroom, while Andy designed a mural for the show home’s cloakroom. The mural depicts a standing unicorn inspired by the city’s coat of arms and made up of local landmarks close to Curo’s development: Kings Weston House, Blaise Castle Estate, the wind turbines in Avonmouth, as well the Severn crossing.

Andy also spray-painted a piano for the show home’s living room – the design combines the industrial heritage of the area with iconic Bristol symbols such as the Suspension Bridge, the Hot Air Balloon Festival and Clifton’s multicoloured houses.

Andy says: “I was delighted to work with Curo on this project at their Century Park development in Bristol. The spray paint and ‘street art’ style of my work reflects what Bristol’s creative scene is widely known for and fits well with Century Park’s location. It’s great that Curo have chosen to work with and promote local artists who have good knowledge of the area and can add value and authenticity to a project.”

The show home also features framed prints by Bristol-based street artist Nick Walker and designer and illustrator Hannah Broadway.

Curo Sales Manager, Jodie Winter, says: “We’re very excited about our show home at Century Park. The design is inspired by the development’s location and promotes local landmarks, as well as the vibrant and multicultural art scene of Bristol and surrounding areas.”

(Show home master bedroom)

Century Park offers one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, as well as green open spaces and cycle path connections to the wider area. All properties feature ground source heat pumps, a greener alternative to gas boilers.

(Dining area)

Jodie says: “All homes released for sale at Century Park so far have been reserved, but more properties will be advertised in the coming months. Homes at Century Park are modern, energy-efficient, sustainable, and attractively priced, with many being eligible to purchase using the government-backed Help to Buy scheme.”

To find out more about the homes at Century Park or to book an appointment to visit the Westbury show home, call 0345 140 5050 or email CenturyPark@curo-group.co.uk.

(Show home cloakroom featuring mural by artist Andy Council)

Young Bristol family can finally live together thanks to new housing development

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 09:44:23 Z

Bradley and Chelsea visiting Century Park to see construction progress of their new home

A young couple and their two children can finally live together for the first time in years, after taking a first step on the property ladder at Curo’s new development of 128 homes in Lawrence Weston, Century Park.

Bradley and Chelsea are both 27 and live in the local area. Chelsea is staying at her parents’ home in Lawrence Weston with the couple’s two children, 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son, while Bradley lives in Shirehampton with his parents and younger sister.

The couple have opted for this arrangement instead of renting so that they could save up for a deposit to buy a home of their own.

Chelsea says: “My sister also lives at home with our parents and there’s no room, which is why Bradley and I are having to live apart at the minute. Sometimes Bradley doesn’t finish work until late and then he has to go straight home, without seeing me or the children.”

Bradley, who manages a garage for lorry repairs in Avonmouth, says: “It’s very hard and it’s been like this for a couple of years now. We did consider renting, of course, because we wanted to be together as a family, but we wouldn’t have been able to save up for a deposit then. When you have children and you’re paying £1,000 a month in rent alone it is very hard to do it.”

The couple bought their two-bedroom house at Century Park with the government’s Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme, which is only available for new-build homes. Help to Buy makes it possible for first time buyers to purchase a home with only 5% cash deposit, while benefitting from a government loan of 20% of the cost of a newly built home, making mortgages more affordable.

Bradley says: “We were very excited when we heard that Curo were going to build homes here, in Lawrence Weston. We really thought this is a great opportunity to do something good for our family. Since then we made extra efforts to save up and buy our own home.

“We couldn’t buy an older property in the area because we couldn’t afford it without Help to Buy.”

Chelsea walks her two children to school in Avonmouth every day. The journey will take about half the time from their new home. She says: “Our extended families live in the area and we’re very close, we help each other with the kids and support one another, so we feel very lucky that we could stay in Lawrence Weston, close to all our family and friends.”

Bradley says: “We can’t wait to tell the children that we’re all going to move to our own house together, they’ll be made up!

“We’re just looking forward to being together and spending time as a family.”

All homes released for sale at Century Park in the first tranche have now been sold, but more properties will be made available to reserve and buy over the coming months.

Century Park offers 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-berroom homes for sale, social rent and Shared Ownership. All homes at Century Park feature ground source heat pumps, an alternative to gas boilers that is more environmentally friendly.

For more information about homes at Century Park, call Curo’s sales team on 0345 140 5050, email sales@curo-group.co.uk or visit www.curo-sales.co.uk.

Find out how to take a first step on the property ladder with Shared Ownership in Lawrence Weston

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 13:00:52 Z

Residents in Lawrence Weston and surrounding areas who are dreaming of taking a first step on the property ladder at Century Park or The Willows developments can now find out more about the affordable homeownership scheme, Shared Ownership, directly from Curo’s sales team.

The Shared Ownership experts will be hosting a free drop in event on Saturday 26 February from 10am until 3pm at Ambition Lawrence Weston Youth Centre (BS11 0RX).

Curo are currently building 185 new homes in Lawrence Weston, across two developments: The Willows at Corbet Close and Century Park at Henacre Road. More than half of these – 95 homes – will be affordable housing, including 28 homes for Shared Ownership.

Paula Beel, Affordable Sales Manager at Curo, says: “Shared Ownership homes are allocated on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis and we want to make sure that local residents in Lawrence Weston and surrounding areas are prepared to take advantage of these fantastic homeownership opportunities in their neighbourhood.

“Come along to find out if you qualify for Shared Ownership and how to access this government-backed scheme. Our friendly team will be on hand to offer advice and answer any questions you may have.”

Local residents will also have the chance to speak to independent financial advisors from Evolve Financial Solutions about their specific circumstances on the day.

Shared Ownership enables first time buyers - and those who used to own a home but can no longer afford one - to purchase a share of a property, significantly reducing mortgage requirements and the sum needed for a deposit. The buyer then pays rent on the remaining share and has the option of increasing their own share over time until they reach 100% ownership and no longer need to pay rent.

For further details about the event call our Curo Sales colleagues on 0345 140 5050, or Ambition Lawrence Weston on 0117 9235112.

What?

Shared Ownership drop in event

When?

Saturday 26 February

From 10am until 3pm – drop in anytime

Where?

Ambition Lawrence Weston Youth Centre

Long Cross, Lawrence Weston, Bristol BS11 0RX

Bristol school opens sensory garden with help from local housebuilders

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 09:26:36 Z

Image above: Curo Sales Advisor, Ruby Webber and Jehu Project Manager, Tomasz Magiera helping Year 1 and Year 2 pupils to plant their new sensory garden at Oasis Academy Bank Leaze.

A school in Lawrence Weston, Bristol has opened a new sensory garden to help promote the pupils’ wellbeing and mental health.

Oasis Academy Bank Leaze, also known locally as ‘the blue school on the hill’, was helped to set up the garden by housing association and housebuilder Curo and their contractor Jehu Group.

Curo is working with Jehu to deliver 57 new affordable homes for social and affordable rent and shared ownership at The Willows, a residential development near the school.

The materials and labour for the planters as well as all the plants were donated by Curo and Jehu as part of their joint commitment to support communities and make a positive contribution to the neighbourhoods they work in.

Students from Year 1 and Year 2 were helped by Curo and Jehu colleagues to plant the garden with low ferns, rose bushes, ornamental grasses, coloured heathers and some herbs.

L-R: Paula Beel, Curo Sales Manager, Ruby Webber, Curo Sales Advisor, Tomasz Magiera, Jehu Project Manager and Georgina Fitz-Gerald, Oasis Academy teacher with Year 1 and Year 2 pupils.

Curo Sales Manager, Paula Beel, says: “Supporting local communities where we build much-needed new homes is part of Curo’s purpose – Homes for Good.

“Over the past couple of years, we’ve all rediscovered how powerful nature can be in helping us to maintain and improve our well-being and mental health. We’re really pleased that, alongside our contractor Jehu, we were able to help the school create this lovely garden for their children to enjoy every day.”

Jehu Project Manager, Tomasz Magiera, says: “We’re proud to work with Curo at The Willows, delivering much-needed new affordable homes in Lawrence Weston, and supporting community initiatives that benefit local residents. It’s great to see how much the children are already enjoying the new garden and we’re proud we could come together and use our strength as a force for good in society.”

Oasis Academy Bank Leaze teacher, Georgina Fitz-Gerald, says: “The children loved planting and tending to the garden. They’re really excited about watering the plants to help them grow and look forward to seeing how they will change over the seasons.

“At our school, we try to use the outdoors as much as possible to teach our children about nature and the environment, and to promote their mental health. We’re over the moon with our new garden and I’m certain it will be enjoyed by the kids for many years to come.”

The Willows is a 100% affordable housing development, including 19 homes for sale through the part-rent/part-buy scheme, shared ownership. The development will be completed by the end of 2022.

For more information about The Willows click here. For shared ownership, visit our sales website.

Housebuilding in Lawrence Weston brings opportunities for local people

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 12:31:55 Z

A Lawrence Weston resident is among the newest members of contractor Jehu’s site team at Curo’s The Willows development, in Bristol.

The Willows is a 100% affordable housing development of 57 homes for social and affordable rent and shared ownership. Curo is working with contractor Jehu to deliver the much-needed new homes.

James Beck joined the site team two months ago as labourer and construction traffic marshall for the project. The 34-year-old father-of-three and his family have lived in Lawrence Weston all their lives and their current home is just across the road from the new development site.

James says: “I’ve always been interested in construction and I started working on sites right after I finished school. I really enjoy this line of work and look forward to learning new skills in my current role.

“It’s great to be able to work so close to my home. I saw the job advertised and I thought it can’t get any better, it’s straight across the road from where I live - the shortest commute!”

James believes that employing local people to work in their communities is a win-win situation for everyone. He says: “When you have a busy construction site there can sometimes be some difficulties with things like deliveries of materials. Having a friendly face on site, someone local people recognise and can approach with any comments or suggestions is great because whatever it is, if they tell us, we will do our best to sort it.”

James’ current goals include gaining some further construction qualifications. He says: “The teams here at Jehu and Curo are very supportive. In the long term, I would like to become a site manager myself and I know that with this job there are opportunities, training and support for this.”

James was offered a permanent role with contractor Jehu and will continue to work alongside the team after the construction at The Willows is completed.

Read more about The Willows development in our contractor's latest construction newsletter here.

Want to find out more about the future shared ownership homes at The Willows? Visit our sales website to register your interest.

First homes at new Bristol development to go on sale this month

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 09:00:00 Z

Curo’s Century Park residential development in Lawrence Weston, Bristol, is set to open the doors to its marketing suite this month as the first new homes are released for sale.

Century Park is a brand-new neighbourhood of 128 homes for private sale, rent and Shared Ownership, ranging from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom family houses.

Prices for the first homes available to buy start at £230,000 for a two-bedroom mid-terrace house with one parking space, up to £320,000 for a four-bedroom end of terrace with two parking spaces.

With construction work well underway, these homes are scheduled to be ready to move into next year.

Alongside homes, Century Park will also provide open spaces, including a play trail and trim trail, as well as the relocation and improvement of an existing cycle path, which will be lit through the new development.

Homes at Century Park will feature ground source heat pumps, a low carbon heating system that’s better for the environment, and a greener alternative to traditional gas boilers.

Curo Sales Manager Jodie Winter says: “Homes at Century Park are situated close to great schools, at the heart of a vibrant community, and only a 15-minute drive or 30-minute train journey from Bristol City Centre. There are many parks nearby, including the stunning Blaise Castle Estate, as well as plenty of cycle routes connecting the new homes with places like Aust village and Portishead.

“We’re very pleased to be launching our marketing suite this month and our team is looking forward to helping many families find their perfect home at Century Park. All homes currently released for sale are also available with Help to Buy, a scheme aimed at helping first time buyers to get on the property ladder with a government loan of up to 20% of the cost of a newly built home.”

Curo’s sales office will open on Saturday 21 August and visitors will be able to book appointments 7 days a week from 10am-5.30pm.

For more information about the new homes, or to book an appointment at Century Park, visit our sales website or call 0345 140 5050.

Curo reveals plans for 70 new affordable homes in Bristol

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 12:07:08 Z

We have launched a digital public consultation to gather views about proposals to build another – entirely affordable - housing development in Bishopsworth, Bristol.

The site, which is one of the last remaining undeveloped plots of land of the former Imperial Tobacco Factory, could see up to 70 new affordable homes delivered by the end of 2024, subject to planning permission.

Located just off Hengrove Way, a major route into the city, the area is known as Imperial Retail Park and Lakeshore and is a mixed-use regeneration project with shops, restaurants, offices and residential dwellings.

The homes will be a mix of apartments and houses with one, two and three bedrooms. All new homes at Curo’s Imperial Park development will be affordable housing: 12 homes for social rent, 28 homes for affordable rent and 30 homes for sale through the affordable homeownership scheme, shared ownership.

Curo have worked with architects Stride Treglown to develop the plans. The proposed homes will be well insulated and will feature triple glazed windows for increased energy efficiency, and air source heat pumps, a low maintenance and more environmentally friendly alternative to gas boilers. Air source heat pumps work by absorbing heat from the outside air, even when it's very cold, to warm up a home and provide hot water.

Houses and apartment buildings at Curo’s Imperial Park scheme will have photovoltaic solar panels installed on the roofs, further helping to reduce the future residents' carbon footprint and energy bills.

Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points will be dotted around the development, which will also feature green open space with trees, shrubs and natural wood play equipment.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’d love to hear the views of local residents about our proposals for Imperial Park. Affordable housing is desperately needed in Bristol, with more than 13,000 families registered on the Council’s Homechoice scheme, waiting for a place to call home. Working in partnership with the Council and the local community, we hope to finesse our ideas so that we can create beautiful, sustainable homes which are truly valued by the city and its residents.”

Curo are delivering another 78 affordable homes in the area through a partnership with developer Kier at the Urban Quarter scheme at Whitchurch Lane.

To see the plans for Curo’s Imperial Park development and submit your feedback click here.

Curo appoints Jehu to £8.5million regeneration scheme in Bristol

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 10:13:49 Z

West of England housing association Curo has appointed Jehu Group as the main contractor to deliver 57 new affordable homes at a regeneration scheme in Lawrence Weston, Bristol.

The development, whose name ‘The Willows’ was suggested by a local resident, will consist of a mix of one, two and three-bedroom houses and apartments delivered across three adjoining sites. The project will include the conversion of Curo’s former office building at Holly House into 13 apartments for social rent. These will be let to people over 55 and will feature assistive technology, such as personal alarms or memory aids, that can be tailored to the needs of the occupiers and enable them to stay in their homes for longer.

Another 25 homes for affordable rent and 19 houses for shared ownership will be newly constructed on the land of the former Long Cross Inn and Rockwell care home.

Curo will also refurbish an existing block of 12 apartments which will benefit from external insulation, new windows and new electricity supplies. The improvements will help reduce heating bills and increase comfort for residents.

Curo’s investment of almost £5.7 million will be topped up by a Homes England grant of just over £2.8 million.

Works are starting in March, with the first few weeks of activity dedicated to setting up and preparing the site. This will be followed by demolition of the former Rockwell care home buildings, scheduled to start on 25th March and last approximately 12 weeks.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’re looking forward to working with Jehu at The Willows. This exciting regeneration scheme won’t just provide new affordable housing for local people, it will also benefit the wider community by redeveloping vacant and underused land and improving the appearance and security of the area.”

Nigel Crawford, Operations Director of Jehu South West, says: “We are excited by our new partnership with Curo and are looking forward to delivering much needed affordable homes for the local community at The Willows. The Willows is an exciting development for the area, and we plan to develop a great relationship with the residents, the Oasis Bank Leaze Academy school and local businesses and leave a legacy when we have finished the project.”

Curo are building another 128 new homes in Lawrence Weston, including 90 homes for sale and 38 homes for social rent and shared ownership at their Century Park development.

The regeneration scheme at The Willows is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

Curo acquires Bristol site to deliver 32 new affordable homes

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 10:47:46 Z

Image above: Artist's impression - street view of the new homes at Midland Road, Old Market, Bristol.

Bath-based housing association Curo will deliver 32 affordable homes at Midland Road in Bristol, after acquiring a new site in a package deal with developer Autograph Partnerships.

The scheme, situated in the heart of the historic Old Market Quarter, one of Bristol’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, was designed by NOMA Architects and will be built by Autograph Partnerships for Curo. Works on site have already started and it is anticipated that the homes will be ready for occupation by Summer 2022.

The majority of the one, two and three-bedroom apartments will be let to people on Bristol City Council’s housing list – 16 at social rent and nine at affordable rent. Another seven apartments will be sold through the affordable home ownership scheme, Shared Ownership.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “A successful, growing city such as Bristol needs to have the widest possible range of good quality housing in high value areas, such as the city centre, not only to meet the housing needs of its diverse residents but also to continue to be successful into the future.

“Lockdown has reminded us about the importance of ‘home’ and that society functions best when our bus drivers, care workers and shop assistants live locally and are part of the community.

“These Curo homes will allow these essential workers, as well as many others, to rent affordably or to buy low cost housing near their place of work, near their family or other support networks in a way which might not otherwise be possible for them. We need to do much more affordable housing in these generally much more expensive parts of the city if we are to continue to be a successful place to live. I’m delighted Curo are playing their part in making this happen.”

Simon Taylor, Autograph Partnerships Managing Director, says: “We are delighted that our Partnerships arm has been able to unlock this site for Curo. We are now looking forward to delivering a quality affordable scheme and building on our reputation as a trusted developer partner.”

The city centre apartments will be among the first to be connected to Bristol’s Heat Network, providing future Curo residents with affordable, low-carbon heat and energy. The Heat Network, or district heating, supplies homes and businesses with heat and electricity from more sustainable sources, including biomass and water source heat pumps, which integrate the production of heat and electricity into a single process, reducing carbon emissions and increasing efficiency. The infrastructure will enable a move towards renewable energy alternatives over time, progressively reducing the carbon footprint of the homes.

The network is a Bristol City Council initiative and part of a wider commitment to address the climate emergency and make Bristol a carbon neutral city by 2030.

Victor says: “For our residents, being part of the Bristol Heat Network will mean lower heating bills compared to a conventional boiler system. It’s great to know that, as the city will increase its reliance on renewable energy over the coming years, these homes will be perfectly placed to take advantage of greener energy and contribute to achieving Bristol’s carbon neutral commitment.”

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees says: “We have an ambitious target in Bristol to become carbon neutral by 2030 and our heat network infrastructure is a fundamental part of achieving this. Curo’s new affordable homes in the Old Market district are a great example of local authorities and housing associations working together and doing their bit to put residents and the environment first. I look forward to seeing these homes completed and I’m pleased that their future residents will benefit from greener and more affordable energy.”

More than £5million will be invested by Curo, who have also secured just under £1.8million of grant funding from Homes England to deliver the scheme.

Artist's impression - street scene of the new affordable homes in Bristol

Artist's impression - aerial view of the new homes at Midland Road, Bristol.

Curo launch new show home in Keynsham

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 10:06:48 Z

Curo has unveiled a brand-new show home at its Woodland View @ Hygge Park development in Keynsham.

The four-bedroom detached Avon show home is ideal for family life, with a large open plan kitchen-diner on the ground floor, opening up to a well-sized garden through French patio doors. The stylish kitchen features a central island/breakfast bar with integrated ovens and a utility room with direct access to the garden.

Double doors connect the kitchen-diner to a spacious living area. In addition, there is a WC as well as a study/second reception room to the ground floor.

Upstairs, there are four double bedrooms, two of which have en-suites, and a family bathroom; the master bedroom also features a walk-in wardrobe. Avon house types at Woodland View come with a double garage and two off-street parking spaces.

Across the development, Curo are building three- and four-bedroom semi-detached and detached houses for sale on the open market, with prices starting at £475,000. Two-bedroom Shared Ownership properties at Woodland View and across the entire Hygge Park development will be available exclusively from Curo, with prices starting at £114,000 for a 40% share.

Help to Buy available

Keynsham born and bred Curo Senior Sales Negotiator, Andrew Davidson, says: “With our open market and Shared Ownership homes we can help families of any size find their ideal ‘forever home’ in Keynsham, close to fantastic amenities, popular schools and within easy reach of Bristol and Bath city centres.

“Homes for sale at Woodland View are also available through the ‘Help to Buy’ equity loan scheme, with the government lending buyers 20% of the purchase price interest-free for the first five years – meaning customers only need a 5% deposit to secure a mortgage.”

5% deposit boost, free flooring and legal fees paid

In addition, thanks to the recently announced ‘stamp duty holiday’, buyers could save as much as £15,000 when purchasing a home worth £500,000 or more until 31st March 2021.

There’s even more on offer for customers purchasing an off-plan property at Woodland View, as Andrew explains: “We’ll cover your home-buying legal fees and offer a 5% deposit ‘boost’* as well. Together with the stamp duty holiday, these initiatives add up to significant savings for our customers. What’s more, we’re including free flooring from our wide selection of luxury vinyl and carpets.”

Great location for family lifestyle

Woodland View at Hygge Park is conveniently situated close to Keynsham’s great amenities and within the catchment area of some of its top schools. There is a popular nursery just across the road from the new development, while the nearest primary and secondary schools - Wellsway School and Sixth Form, Saltford C of E Primary School and Chandag Junior School - are only a couple of minutes’ drive away.

Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park is situated only a few minutes’ walk from the new homes, offering fun-filled family activities and learning experiences. There are also plenty of scenic walks and cycle tracks nearby, including the traffic-free and picturesque Bristol and Bath Railway Path, connecting the two cities via Keynsham.

To visit the Avon show home at Woodland View @ Hygge Park go to our sales website and register your interest or call 0345 140 5050 to book a one to one appointment. You can also see a video tour of the show home here.

*5% of the property price, selected plots only, subject to status and availability.

More affordable homes for West of England

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 10:48:51 Z

Image above: West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles (left) and Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha (right) at Curo's Mulberry Park development in Bath

340 new affordable homes will be built in the West of England thanks to a commitment from local housing association Curo to invest £25m of government funding in the region.

A Strategic Partnership agreement between Homes England and Bath-based Curo has been agreed, with support from the West of England Combined Authority, which is working with partners to build more much-needed affordable homes, more quickly.

Curo and the West of England Combined Authority have been working together to enable a commitment that the funding will deliver homes in the West of England.

As part of this Strategic Partnership, secured in collaboration with Essex-based Swan Housing, Curo has agreed to earmark £25m to deliver more than 340 new affordable homes within the region over the next five years. The scheme has been made possible by a government grant from Homes England, the government body sponsored by The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), whose purpose is to accelerate the delivery of new homes.

This will begin with proposals to build up to 47 new affordable homes at Broadbury Road in Filwood, Bristol, and a planning application is currently being prepared.

Victor da Cunha, CEO of Curo, said: “We’re very pleased to be working with the West of England Combined Authority, Homes England and councils in our region to deliver these new homes. We work in an area which experiences acute housing affordability issues; building new housing will provide hundreds of local families with secure, long term homes.

“We very much welcome the government’s provision of grant funding through the Strategic Partnership scheme; it recognises Housing Associations’ key role in addressing the country’s housing crisis and allows us to accelerate our investment and build programme.”

Tim Bowles, West of England Mayor, said: “This partnership is responding to our need for more affordable homes, by committing to major development in our region.

“We need more homes for our residents to buy and rent. We need homes in the right places and at prices people can afford. The West of England Combined Authority is proud to support this partnership, and I am confident that it will deliver successful places where people will aspire to be.”

Homes for heroes 100 – celebrating a century of social housing

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 10:53:06 Z

Image above: Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, with Lawrence Weston residents Rhiannon Beail (left) and Becky Cockle (right). Becky named our Century Park housing development in Lawrence Weston, Bristol, to mark 100 years since the first homes for heroes were built in the area after World War I.

This year marks the centenary of the 1919 Housing and Town Planning Act, known as The Addison Act, after the Minister of Health and Housing at the time. The 1919 Act represents the start of the first significant era of social housing building in the UK, from delivering new homes to creating communities and changing the social fabric of the country.

Bristol City Council, the Festival of Ideas and Bristol Cultural Development Partnership are running 'Homes for Heroes 100' - a year-long programme designed to mark the special centenary of the first council homes built to accommodate servicemen after the first world war.

Curo are proud to support Homes for Heroes 100 and earlier this year, we also marked 100 years of social housing with the naming of ‘Century Park’, one of our newest development sites in Bristol. The name was suggested by local resident Becky Cockle. Her choice recognises the 100th anniversary since the first ‘homes for heroes’ were built in the wider area of Lawrence Weston, Bristol.

As part of the 'Homes for Heroes 100' programme, on Wednesday 16 October, Chief Executive Victor da Cunha will take part in a one-hour debate about ‘Building New Communities in New Estates’ alongside Peter Barber Architects Director, Alice Brownfield, National Housing Federation Chief Executive, Kate Henderson, author and social historian, John Boughton, and former radio presenter, Jenny Lacey.

To attend this 4:45pm - 5:45pm session at the Watershed in Bristol click here.

We’re also sponsoring the 'Showcasing Bristol Projects' session on Wednesday 16 October, which will look at experiences of growing up in council housing in the past and what this means today, as well as examples, lessons learned and where we go next when it comes to building new social housing and creating new communities.

To attend this free session taking place at the Watershed in Bristol between 8:00pm - 9:15pm, click here.

Bristol housing associations launch academy to tackle skills shortages

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 09:49:32 Z

Bristol Housing Partnership (BHP), a group of 14 housing associations working with the Council to deliver more affordable homes in the city, has launched a pilot training and employment scheme aimed at attracting young people to choose a career in housing development.

The initiative, known as the BHP Academy, will offer a number of people the opportunity to train and work as affordable housing development officers over a period of 24 months. They will receive specialist training in the first year and will continue to learn while working within established development teams for the following 12 months. Each trainee officer will receive a salary of £23,000 pa during the two-year period.

The pilot scheme offers ten places on the programme and represents an investment by BHP and Bristol City Council of £100,000 in training alone. Seven of the available places are newly created roles, five of which will be recruited externally and two recruited internally by BHP members. The remainder three positions will be offered as internal training opportunities to BHP and BCC employees.

Sarah Maylor, Chair of the BHP, says: “A career in housing development can be incredibly fulfilling but, despite the many advantages it offers, our sector is still affected by skills shortages. There’s a particular lack of applicants with the right skills in development roles and housing associations are struggling to recruit experienced candidates.

“Our members are committed to building 2,500 new homes in Bristol alone over the next five years and, to do so, we need more skilled people – this is why we’ve decided to invest in ‘growing our own’ talent.

“The ideal candidates are university and sixth form college graduates, regardless of degree specialty – as we’re offering extensive training, our recruitment will focus more on attitude to learning, personal competence and enthusiasm.”

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees says: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to gain valuable new skills and join a sector that offers clear career progression. At the same time they will be making a positive difference to local people’s lives, by helping to build more affordable homes in our city and region.

“I’m delighted that we are able to support this initiative, alongside a number of other training, skills and employment schemes we’re running to ensure that Bristol continues to thrive and attract investment.”

Curo is one of the BHP members recruiting for a new colleague to join our development team through the Bristol Housing Partnership Academy. This is a great opportunity to learn new skills that are in high demand, while earning an attractive salary.

To apply for the Trainee Development Officer role with Curo, click here.

To see the other roles available through the BHP Academy, visit www.housing.org.uk/bhp-academy.

Public exhibition will show plans for 47 new affordable homes in Filwood, Bristol

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 13:41:20 Z

Image above: Partial street elevation sketch of the proposed development

Housing association Curo has announced it proposes to build up to 47 new affordable homes at Broadbury Road in Filwood, Bristol.

A public exhibition will be held on Wednesday 3 July to share the proposals and enable local residents to give their views. The consultation will take place between 3-7pm at the Broad Plain House social club, opposite the police station on Broadbury Road, BS4 1JT.

The 100% affordable housing scheme could deliver 25 houses and 22 flats and maisonettes with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms – of these, 37 homes would be available to purchase via the Shared Ownership scheme, while the remainder ten homes would be let on social rent through the Council’s choice-based lettings system, HomeChoice.

The development would provide a majority of Shared Ownership homes in response to the local housing demand, which highlights a need for this type of affordable homeownership product, offered on a part-buy/part-rent basis for local people who qualify. People interested in Shared Ownership can register their interest and check their eligibility at www.helptobuysouth.co.uk.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’re pleased to announce another 100% affordable housing scheme in Bristol, the third in just 18 months.

We’ve developed the proposals in consultation with Bristol City Council (BCC) and local stakeholders and now we want to hear from the community; please come along to the exhibition to let us know what you think.”

The Broad Plain House social club will not be affected by the development plans and will remain in place for local residents to continue to enjoy into the future. Curo’s plans also include sufficient parking provision for new residents on site, in line with BCC’s policy.

Subject to planning permission, Curo could start building works in June next year and complete the development by mid-2021.

Local residents choose names for Curo’s developments in Lawrence Weston, Bristol

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 08:55:24 Z

‘Century Park’ and ‘The Willows’ are today revealed as the new names for Curo’s developments in Lawrence Weston, Bristol.

The names were suggested by local residents Becky Cockle and Rhiannon Beail, following a campaign by Curo to find new identities for the two sites - previously referred to as Henacre Road and Corbet Close.

The winning residents were thanked for their contributions and given vouchers by Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha. Victor says: “We wanted to make sure we chose names that reflected the local area, its community, history and landmarks - what better way to do so than ask local people who live here for their input.

“The competition was a great opportunity to engage with the local community and we’ve received many inspiring suggestions. Thanks to everyone who got involved and congratulations to Becky and Rhiannon for putting forward the winning names.”

Over the next few years, Curo plans to develop 185 new homes in Lawrence Weston with more than half – 95 homes – as affordable housing for social/affordable rent and shared ownership.

Century Park at Henacre Road will deliver 128 new homes, including 30% affordable housing. The Willows at Corbet Close is a 100% affordable housing scheme and will provide another 57 much-needed new homes.

Rhiannon Beail, who suggested ‘The Willows’, is a 21-year-old college student. She said: “The development is located very close to the local nature reserve and wetlands where there are many willow trees. As a resident of Lawrence Weston I have visited these wetlands many times since I was little and thought it would be nice to acknowledge the close connection to nature we have in this area.

“There was also a large willow tree that stood just up the street from Corbet Close, I used to walk past it every day on my way to school.”

Century Park was suggested by local resident Becky Cockle, who is a Trainee Community Development Worker for the resident-driven organisation Ambition Lawrence Weston. Becky’s choice recognises the 100th anniversary since the first ‘homes for heroes’ were built in the wider area. She said: “I support the development and look forward to these much-needed new homes being built. I’m even more excited about it now that I can tell friends and family I actually named the site!”

Name our developments and win £100 in Love2Shop vouchers

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 12:03:24 Z

Curo asks local people for suggestions

We’re proud and excited to be delivering 185 new homes in Lawrence Weston over the next few years. While we’re progressing our planning applications for 57 affordable homes at Corbet Close and 128 homes at Henacre Road, we’re asking local residents to help us find names for our two developments.

If you have an idea for a name for either of the new schemes – or both – that reflects the local area, its community, history or landmarks, we’d love to hear from you.

The winning names will receive £100 in Love2Shop vouchers each and will be announced in February 2019.

Send your ideas together with your name, age, contact details and one sentence explaining the story behind your suggestion by 31st January 2019 to:

E: communications@curo-group.co.uk

Or write to us at:

Curo – Communications

The Maltings, River Place

Lower Bristol Road

Bath BA2 1EP

See Terms & Conditions for the competition here.

Bristol Mayor welcomes residents to Curo’s new affordable homes at Whitehall Road

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 14:07:21 Z

Image above - from left to right: Curo Chief Executive Victor da Cunha, Curo customers Hazel Spinks and five-year-old son Leo, Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees and Bristol City Council Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Paul Smith

The Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, has welcomed the first families into their homes at a new development of 14 affordable houses at Whitehall Road, Easton.

The three-bedroom homes, delivered by housing association and house-builder Curo and contractor Clayewater Homes, are being let through Bristol City Council’s Home Choice scheme on secure affordable rent tenancies below the Local Housing Allowance rate.

Amongst the first new residents are Hazel Spinks, her partner Mark Garnett and their three children. They were handed the keys to their new home by the Mayor and Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, during a ceremony that marked the official completion of the affordable housing development.

The family of five previously lived in a two-bed maisonette. Hazel, who is the main carer for her five-year-old autistic son, says: “We desperately needed more space to bring up our three children and particularly for my son’s needs. Leo goes to school two hours a day and spends most of his time at home, so having a spacious, warm and safe home, with a garden, is incredibly important for his wellbeing.

“Our whole family is so excited about moving into our beautiful new home – it’s like an early Christmas present. We really don’t mind about getting any other gifts because now we’ve got a lovely new home for our family.”

Abbie and her 15-year old daughter and ten-year-old son have been on the housing list for almost five years and they’re delighted to be moving into a new Curo home. Abbie says: “My teenage daughter is studying for her GCSEs and she’s so happy to finally have her own space rather than share a bedroom with her younger brother.

“While living in a flat we didn’t have any outdoors space so to move somewhere with a garden is just amazing.”

Mr and Mrs Bah are also amongst the new Curo residents at Whitehall Road. They’ve been living in temporary accommodation with their three children since February. Mr Bah, who works as a forklift driver, says: “It’s a great feeling to know that we can now settle in our new home for the long term. It’s a very good location close to many amenities and a five-minute walk to my children’s school. We’re all really happy.”

Curo has invested over £2.8m into the scheme, with additional funding coming from Bristol City Council’s Affordable Housing funding budget (£322,000) and Homes England (£520,000).

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’re absolutely delighted that 14 more families have the opportunity today to move into a brand new home with a secure, long-term tenancy at our development.

“We’re working hard alongside the Council and other partners to make it possible for even more local people to access high quality affordable housing and we have several active sites across the city. In North Bristol, where we’re looking to deliver 185 new homes, more than half will be affordable housing for people who struggle to rent or buy on the open market.

“We need to do more and we’re constantly looking for opportunities and partnerships that will enable us to increase our affordable housing delivery in Bristol.”

Mayor Marvin Rees says: “It’s great to meet the new residents and see how building new, high-quality affordable homes changes people’s lives for the better. Working in partnership with housing associations like Curo is essential to solving the housing crisis and meeting our city’s target of 2,000 new homes, including 800 affordable homes, by 2020.

“Redevelopments like this are crucial in making sure that affordable homes are available in key locations within the city by changing the use of existing underused and derelict sites and I’m very pleased that Curo have chosen to build a 100% affordable housing scheme here.

“A secure home is the foundation of a thriving life and I’ve met a number of families here today who will benefit from these modern affordable homes for many years to come.”

Bristol City Council Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Paul Smith, was also among guests taking their first look at Curo’s new affordable homes. He said: “This scheme is a great example of partnership working. It’s also the first 100% affordable housing development in Bristol to be delivered with support from the Council’s Affordable Housing funding budget.

“We’ve committed £322,000 to make these new homes possible and I’m delighted that more families were able to find the right home for themselves, in the right location. We work closely with house-builders like Curo to build the homes our city needs both by integrating new housing into existing communities and creating new, balanced neighbourhoods.”

Bristol North West MP visits Lawrence Weston site where Curo hope to deliver 57 new affordable homes

Tue, 25 Sep 2018 15:49:19 Z

Image above - from left to right: Curo Senior Development Manager Francesca Topazio, Darren Jones MP, Curo Managing Director Gerraint Oakley and Technical Manager Peter Haywood at Holly House, Corbet Close

Bristol North West MP Darren Jones visited Curo’s site at Corbet Close in Lawrence Weston last week to find out more about the organisation’s plans to build 57 much-needed new affordable homes in the area.

The local MP was accompanied on the site visit by Curo Managing Director, Gerraint Oakley, and the project team.

The development will provide one, two and three bedroom homes for social and affordable rent, as well as a number of homes for shared ownership.

Curo submitted its planning application in August and is anticipating the new homes could be completed by the end of 2021 if granted consent by Bristol City Council.

Corbet Close along with Curo’s other proposed development in Lawrence Weston - for 128 homes at Henacre Road - could see the addition of 185 new homes in total for the area, of which 95 will be affordable housing.

Mr Jones said: “These developments will help more families from Lawrence Weston to stay in or return to the community they love and where they grew up.

“I am pleased that more than half of the new homes proposed by Curo will be available as affordable housing - these homes will benefit people who are on the council’s housing list.

“I grew up in Lawrence Weston and I’m delighted to see investment in housing in this area – these developments and others like it will not only create new housing that is urgently needed in Bristol, they’ll also deliver growth in the local economy. Housing Associations are key partners in delivering our city’s target of 2,000 new homes per year by 2020.”

Gerraint Oakley said: “We’re keen to work with the council and other partners to create even more new housing in Bristol and look forward to be able to start building both at Henacre Road and Corbet Close.

“We’d like to thank Darren Jones MP for taking the time to visit our site and find out more about our developments which will benefit the whole area - including our existing tenants at Corbet Close, who will enjoy better external communal areas, improved security and amenities.”

Curo and Bellway sign agreement to bring 171 new affordable homes to South West region

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:17:28 Z

A £28m deal has been agreed to bring 171 new affordable homes to Bristol, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Housing association and housebuilder Curo and national housebuilder Bellway have joined forces to deliver the homes over the next few years under a strategic S106 package deal.

The deal is the first of its kind for both Curo and Bellway South West. It means Curo will be the sole provider of affordable homes across six Bellway developments.

Curo Chief Executive Victor da Cunha said: “The homes will be a mix of social and affordable rent as well as shared ownership. Importantly, they will enable us to help even more local people in our region to move into a modern, energy-efficient home they can afford.

“We’re delighted to enter this partnership with Bellway. While we are a developer in our own right, collaboration with others is also critically important because it enables us to increase the numbers of homes we let each year and therefore helps address the huge housing need we have across the South West. We hope that this will be the first of many other similar ventures.”

The package deal satisfies Bellway’s section 106 planning obligations to provide affordable homes on its developments. Developers usually work with different housing associations across their schemes and there can be more than one social housing provider on one site. Housing associations acquire these homes to let them on social and affordable rents to local people who can’t afford the market value.

The new homes will cost Curo £28million and will be 100% funded from the organisation’s own resources.

Bellway will also build 326 homes for private sale on the developments in Wickwar, Corsham, Bradford on Avon, Hanham, Melksham and Banwell.

Paul Minnis, Managing Director for Bellway South West, said: “Working with one affordable housing partner across six of our new developments will bring benefits to Bellway, Curo and residents of the private and affordable homes we are building. Together we will work in a more effective and cost-efficient way to make these homes available to local people more quickly.

“The deal comes at a significant point in Bellway’s expansion across the South West. The partnership demonstrates the crucial role of new homes developments in providing affordable housing to meet local needs. Our new developments will also generate investment in infrastructure such as education, healthcare and transport as part of our additional section 106 obligations.”

This is not the first time the two organisations have teamed up to deliver new homes. Bellway also work alongside Curo’s own house-building team at the award-winning Mulberry Park development in South Bath, where each is building private and affordable homes.

Curo on track to complete first development with funding from Bristol City Council’s £57m Affordable Housing pot

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 10:19:56 Z

Housing association and house-builder Curo is nearing completion of its 100% affordable housing scheme at Whitehall Road in Bristol, on the land of the derelict White Hart Hotel.

The 14 new affordable homes are due for completion in November this year, making Curo’s Whitehall scheme the first to be delivered with grant from Bristol City Council’s £57million Affordable Housing funding budget.

BCC cabinet member for housing, Cllr Paul Smith, says: “We’ve committed £322,000 to this development and I’m delighted to see the new homes taking shape with support from the Council, especially as every one of them will go to someone who desperately needs an affordable place to live in Bristol.

“I drive past the development at Whitehall Road almost every day and I was impressed with the speed of delivery by Curo and their contractor – when the new homes are finished in November, it would have taken them 11 months from buying the site to completion. We want to see more house-building like this, delivering much-needed new affordable homes efficiently in key areas of the city and that’s what the Council’s funding budget is in place to support.”

All of the 14 homes are 3-bedroom family-sized houses and will be available through affordable rent from Curo via the Council’s HomeChoice website – www.homechoicebristol.co.uk. Anyone registered with HomeChoice can bid for social and affordable homes in Bristol.

Alongside funding from the Council, Curo have also secured £520,000 from Homes England for this scheme.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’re absolutely committed to delivering new homes in Bristol and we’re always looking for partnerships with the Council and other developers/site owners to enable us to do so.

“We’re currently working on a number of developments in the city, including two projects in NW Bristol, where we’re planning to build 185 new homes with more than half as affordable housing, including 41 homes for social rent.”

At Whitehall Road, Curo is delivering the scheme with local contractor Clayewater Homes, using local materials and suppliers.

Victor says: “House-building delivers benefits beyond the addition of much-needed new homes. Our project at Whitehall Road is using local resources, supporting the local employment and economy.”

Curo acquires 10-acre site for housing development from Bristol City Council

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:39:50 Z

Housing association and house-builder Curo has recently acquired a 10.2-acre site in Lawrence Weston from Bristol City Council with a view to building up to 128 new homes, including 30% affordable housing for social rent and shared ownership.

Curo will be hosting a public exhibition at the Lawrence Weston Baptist Church (Long Cross, BS11 0LT) on Thursday 22 March from 3pm until 7pm to give local people the chance to view and comment on the proposals.

The land stretches from the back of Long Cross and Henacre Road, between Kings Weston Lane and the skate park, and is one of three sites identified for vital new housing in the Lawrence Weston Neighbourhood Plan.

The proposals have been developed by the housing association in consultation with the resident-driven organisation Ambition Lawrence Weston, Bristol Urban Design Forum and Bristol City Council’s affordable housing team.

Curo is proposing a mix of 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom homes, with the majority being 2 and 3-bed houses (72%) in response to the Lawrence Weston Housing Needs Study which highlights the requirement for these types of properties to enable families to stay in the area.

Cabinet lead for housing at BCC, Councillor Paul Smith, says: “Our city desperately needs more affordable housing and we are keen to work with housing associations and developers like Curo who share our vision for thriving mixed communities with high quality, modern and efficient homes.

The Henacre site will unlock the opportunity for more local people to buy or rent at an affordable cost thanks to the 37 social and Shared Ownership homes proposed as part of the development.”

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “Curo is an organisation with social purpose at its heart. We’re committed to help build the homes our region needs and we’re proposing 185 new homes for Lawrence Weston in Bristol, across two sites – Henacre and Corbet Close. More than half of these – 94 homes – will be affordable housing delivered within integrated communities.

We’ve got great ambitions to build a significantly higher number of homes in Bristol and we’re constantly looking for new sites to help the Council achieve their goal of delivering 2,000 homes a year by 2020, of which 800 will be affordable housing.”

Alongside new homes, the development plans for Henacre show improvements to the existing infrastructure such as new zebra crossings and bus shelters on Kings Weston Lane and Long Cross, as well as large areas of open green space and a proposal to retain and re-route the existing cycle path to the north of the site.