Curo News

Curo to put forward plans for 58 new homes at Underhill Farm in Midsomer Norton

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 15:11:38 Z

Image above: CGI of the proposed development at Underhill Farm, Midsomer Norton

Housing association and housebuilder Curo is proposing to build 58 new homes, including 30% affordable housing, on the land between Underhill Farm and Orchard Vale in Midsomer Norton.

A public exhibition of the development plans will take place on Tuesday 22 March at the Orchard Community Hall (BA3 2RB). Local residents are encouraged to drop in anytime from 1pm to 6pm to see the proposals and speak to the project team.

The site was allocated for housing development in Mendip District Council’s Local Plan Part II, adopted in December 2021. Most of the land is situated in Mendip and could accommodate 58 new homes, while the access route for the proposed development is located within Bath & North East Somerset’s authority area.

Curo is proposing to create access from Orchard Vale by demolishing two existing Curo homes on this road. These homes would be replaced with two new-build properties for social rent along the access route so there will be no net loss of affordable housing in B&NES.

The residents living in the two Curo homes have been consulted and they’re being fully supported to move to a new home in an area of their choice. The support package includes moving costs and a ‘home loss’ payment.

Curo is hoping to build 41 homes for sale and 17 new affordable homes, of which 14 would be for social rent and the remaining three would be for sale through the part rent-part buy shared ownership scheme. The homes would be a mix of 1- and 2-bedroom apartments and 2- to 4-bedroom houses.

Homes at Underhill Farm would meet the new 2021 building regulations standards, which are yet to come into effect, and would achieve a minimum of 31% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to current Building Regulations requirements.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “As a local housing association and developer, we’re looking forward to share our plans to build 58 new homes, including desperately-needed affordable homes, on a site that is allocated for housing development. We hope that many local residents will visit the exhibition on 22 March to see the plans and have their voice heard.”

Local residents who can’t attend the exhibition at the Orchard Community Hall will be able to view and comment on the plans from Wednesday 23 March until Tuesday 12 April on our website here.

Curo will review the proposals following feedback from the public consultation and will aim to submit a full planning application to both Mendip District Council and B&NES this summer.

Curo welcomes residents to new affordable homes in Midsomer Norton just in time for Christmas

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 11:40:12 Z

16 families in Midsomer Norton will celebrate Christmas in brand new homes this year, thanks to the completion of a 100% affordable housing development by housing association and housebuilder Curo and contractor E G Carter & Co Ltd.

Pictured above (R-L): Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, Town Mayor Michael Evans, ward councillor for Midsomer Norton Redfield, Paul Myers, and Curo Deputy Managing Director, Sarah Maylor, with the new residents at St Chad's Green, Midsomer Norton

Curo has last week welcomed residents at its regeneration scheme of 16 new affordable homes at St Chad’s Green in Midsomer Norton. The occasion was marked with a Christmas lights switch-on ceremony attended by the new residents, Town Mayor Michael Evans and ward councillor for Midsomer Norton Redfield, Paul Myers.

Construction of the 15 homes with two, three and four bedrooms and a one-bed flat started in February this year; all homes are now occupied, with 12 being let on affordable rent and 4 sold through the low cost homeownership scheme, Shared Ownership.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “It’s fantastic to see the new residents move to high quality, safe and secure homes in time for Christmas and we wish them a very warm welcome.

“This scheme is a great example of how housing associations can address the changing housing needs of an area by working in partnership with local authorities and central government.”

The new homes were created in partnership with Homes England and Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) who provided grant funding of £480,000 and £200,000 respectively, topping up Curo’s investment of almost £2 million.

Councillor Tim Ball, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, welcomed the new development saying “I am delighted that the Council was able to help Curo deliver these much needed homes in Midsomer Norton through the use of our Affordable Housing capital funding. The delivery of affordable homes is a key priority for the Council and we are particularly pleased when a housing association like Curo can bring forward developments that are 100% affordable housing”.

Ward Councillor for Midsomer Norton Redfield, Paul Myers, has been involved in the development since its inception and says: "It’s great to meet the new residents and see how providing good quality affordable homes in the right locations can positively impact the community and people’s lives. The families I’ve met today will benefit from these modern new homes well into the future.”

Amongst the new residents are Laura Prior, her partner Sam and five children. They’ve been living in temporary accommodation for 18 months before moving to a four-bedroom detached home at St Chad’s Green.

Laura says: “We were living in a two-bed flat with five children - it was very hard work. Our new home is absolutely lovely and it feels like a mansion in comparison. We’re all looking forward to enjoying our garden - the kids are overwhelmed with the space they have to play in.”

Pictured above: Father Christmas handing presents to some of Curo's youngest new residents at St Chad's Green, Misdomer Norton

Elizabeth is a teacher. She lived in Midsomer Norton all her life and her son goes to a local school; they moved to a new two-bed home at St Chad’s Green.

Elizabeth says: “My little boy and I feel really blessed and lucky to move in a house like this. We’ve always lived in this area, we love it here and it’s amazing that we now have a place where we can stay for the long term and put down roots, the secure tenancy means a lot to us.”

Daniel Young is one of the new shared owners at St Chad’s Green. He’s 32 years old and works as a machine operator for a local company producing medical packages. Daniel has been living with his parents just up the road from the new development, saving up for a deposit to buy a place of his own. He says: “It’s absolutely fantastic that Curo have built these homes here. It enabled me to stay close to my parents if they need me, but also to invest in my own future, get on the property ladder and have my independence.

“I think young people today have to make a lot of sacrifices to be able to buy a home, especially if they choose to do so on their own - Shared Ownership is a great way of taking that first step on the housing ladder. I look forward to inviting my friends around for the local cricket club’s New Year’s Eve firework display – I now have the best view in town from my back garden.”

Sarah is also local to Midsomer Norton and purchased a new 2-bed home at St Chad’s Green with Shared Ownership. She says: “I moved back home eight years ago to save up after renting privately for quite a long time. To finally be in a home of my own feels pretty amazing and I’m absolutely elated with it – best Christmas present anyone could wish for.”

Alongside new homes, the regeneration project also enabled Curo to deliver enhancements for two existing bungalows at St Chad's Green, with the provision of dedicated parking and solar panels, benefiting existing customers.

Pictured above: Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha (left) with some of the new residents at St Chad's Green, Midsomer Norton

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.”

Curo gets the go-ahead for 16 new affordable homes in Midsomer Norton

Tue, 08 May 2018 11:25:20 Z

A total of 16 new affordable homes will be built at St Chads Green in Midsomer Norton by housing association and house-builder Curo after being granted planning permission by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s officers under delegated authority in April.

The existing buildings at St Chads are vacant and will be demolished and replaced with 15 houses with 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms and a one-bedroom apartment. Demolition works are expected to begin in June 2018 and will last approximately 3-4 months. Curo anticipates completion of the development in late 2019.

All of the new homes at St Chads will be available through affordable rent or to buy via the low cost home ownership scheme Shared Ownership. Affordable rents are usually around 80% of the local market rent; in Midsomer Norton, the average affordable rent for a 3-bed property currently sits at just under £155 per week.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’re working hard to build more affordable homes in B&NES and we’re delighted that our plans for St Chads were approved by planning officers.

“We’re always looking for opportunities and partnerships that will enable us to deliver more affordable homes for local people. Social housing doesn’t just mean subsidised rent, it also offers secure long-term tenancies for customers, enabling them to put down roots and build a life in a stable home.”

The new homes will be delivered by Curo in partnership with Homes England who provided funding of £480,000 and B&NES, who have awarded a further £200,000 grant.

Cllr Paul Myers, Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration and ward councillor for Midsomer Norton, says: “The redevelopment scheme will provide much needed affordable new homes in the town for families currently on the Council’s waiting list and will also help local people to take a first step on the housing ladder with Shared Ownership.

“We’re pleased to support this scheme by committing £200,000 to it from the Council’s affordable homes capital budget, along with the further £480,000 subsidy from Homes England.

“We welcome considerate developments designed with local need in mind and I look forward to seeing the new homes at St Chads taking shape and welcoming their residents over the next 18 months.”

Curo has appointed local construction firm and Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) founding members, EG Carter & Co, to build the new homes. The works will be carried out following the Code of Considerate Practice, designed to encourage best practice over and above standard industry requirements and promote good neighbourly relations between developers and residents during building works. The CCS principles include: Care about Appearance, Respect the Community, Protect the Environment, Secure everyone’s Safety and Value the Workforce.

Victor comments: “The Considerate Constructors Scheme is a fantastic way of delivering new homes in a thoughtful manner and positively contributing to the communities we work in.”