Curo News

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.

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.

Social housing lettings in Bristol - have your say

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 08:47:49 Z

Bristol City Council are asking for your views on who social housing is for and how the council decides who lives where.

They also want to hear about how their decisions affect the local community.

They are speaking to people, communities and organisations across the city before they come up with any options. A full public consultation will
take place later in 2020.

You can complete the survey and find out more about how you can get involved at: www.bristol.gov.uk/lettingsreview

Survey closes 20 March 2020.

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.

More than 200 people turn out to see plans for new Bath park

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:00:12 Z

More than 200 people visited an exhibition held by Curo last week to see the detailed proposals for the open space at Mulberry Park, which will be delivered as part of the housing development.

The open space will feature areas for events that are accessible for all, play and picnic spaces, sensory and edible planting and connections to other places like Springfield Park and the popular National Trust Skyline Walk.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “This was a fantastic turnout and it shows that local residents are interested in the new open space and the facilities it will offer. Thanks to everyone who visited and gave us their feedback.

“We’ve designed the open space together with the local community as an opportunity to encourage and promote health and wellbeing. Our ambition for the park is to bring together existing, new and future communities and to connect our development at Mulberry Park with Foxhill, the wider Combe Down area and Bath. It will be an inclusive space, for everyone to enjoy.”

As well as viewing and commenting on the design for the new park, local residents also had the chance to trial some of the classes available at The Hub for free and enter a prize draw to win one of two £50 Love2Shop vouchers.

The lucky winners were Foxhill resident Kathryn Sinclair and John Brown, who lives at Mulberry Park. In her feedback form, Kathryn wrote: “I am very excited about a new play space being available on our doorstep.”

This is what John had to say: “We believe that the new park is being planned taking account of future changes in our society: cycle path, walking and enjoyment in imaginative plantings. It will be integral with the new development and allow people of all ages to enjoy and be enthralled by nature.”

Curo will submit a planning application for the open space to Bath & North East Somerset Council next month. Subject to planning permission, the new park will open to the public in 2022.

Proposals for new Bath park on display at The Hub

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 11:02:48 Z

Image above: Illustrative masterplan of the Mulberry Park public open space

On Tuesday 16 April, Curo will be hosting a public information exhibition to showcase the developed proposals for a new park in Bath.

At the exhibition, visitors will be able to see the detailed design for the main area of public open space and the woodland walk which will be delivered by Curo at Mulberry Park, alongside proposed improvements to Pope’s Walk bridleway.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’d like to thank our stakeholders and residents in Foxhill, Mulberry Park and Combe Down who’ve taken the time to attend our previous workshops and exhibitions and helped us shape the plans for the new public open spaces at Mulberry Park.

“Alongside well-designed areas for events that are accessible for all, the park will also have play and picnic spaces, sensory and edible planting and connections to other places – for example, Springfield Park and the popular National Trust Skyline Walk.

“Together with The Hub, the park will be a focal point for the community to meet up, play sports, attend events and spend time together.”

It’s all about the community

The exhibition will take place at The Hub at Mulberry Park from 3pm until 7pm on Tuesday 16 April and will also offer residents the chance to trial free activities currently on offer at the community centre.

Manager of The Hub, Lizzie Irvine, says: “This event is all about the community, from getting involved in the plans for their new park to joining one of the free 30-minute taster classes offered by the fantastic instructors at The Hub.

“We’re offering something for everyone, from fitness to line dancing and Tai Chi and we look forward to welcoming as many residents as possible on the day.”

Revised activities table updated Tuesday 16 April

Curo will submit the developed proposals for the park to Bath & North East Somerset Council for approval in May. Subject to planning permission, the anticipated completion for the new park is 2022.

What?

Information exhibition of the developed plans for the new public open space at Mulberry Park
Afternoon of free activities at The Hub

When?

Tuesday 16 April

3pm to 7pm, drop in anytime

Where?

The Hub at Mulberry Park

Mulberry Way, Combe Down

Bath BA2 5BU