Lord Mayor visits £2.4m energy efficient development with trustees to see progress

Lord Mayor visits £2.4m energy efficient development with trustees to see progress

A £2.4m redevelopment scheme in west Hull is set to welcome the Lord Mayor and trustees of Pickering and Ferens Homes to see progress on 20 energy efficient properties this week.

Once complete, the development for the over-60s will comprise 20 two bedroomed bungalows at the charity’s Charles and Esther Jacobs site, in Askew Avenue, west Hull. All the properties are expected to be ready for occupation during March 2013.

All properties will be provided with very high levels of thermal insulation to floors, walls and roofs, they will also have triple glazed windows and water butts to collect rainwater in. Solar PV panels are to also be considered.

The development programme was able to commence after Pickering and Ferens Homes amalgamated with the Charles and Esther Jacobs Homes in September 2008. The charity considered a number of options given that some of the properties on the site were suffering from subsidence and all of the properties needed major refurbishment work.

The options were to either refurbish and convert the 19 existing small, one bedroom bungalows, or to commence a programme of demolition followed by the construction of new build accommodation.

Roger Elliot, director of Pickering and Ferens Homes, says that following detailed consideration it was deemed the properties were beyond economic repair, particularly considering the fact that refurbishment and improvement work to none Grade II listed properties attracts 20 per cent VAT.

“The most economic option therefore was to demolish all the old properties and commence a new build programme,” explained Mr Elliot. “We are very grateful to Charles and Esther Jacobs Homes for the donation of the land and also for the donation of additional investments that have enabled this new build scheme to commence.

“Discussions with architects Gammond Evans Crichton Ltd and construction company Hobson and Porter were entered in to. Planning permission was obtained in March 2012 and work started on site in April 2012. All properties will face onto a central village green with private parking and enclosed front and rear gardens.

“Excellent progress has already been made on the site and I am delighted to be welcoming the Lord Mayor and other key partners along to the site to see how things are developing. This is a real milestone for us at the Charles and Esther Jacobs scheme.”

Councillor Danny Brown, Lord Mayor of Hull and also a trustee of Pickering and Ferens Homes, was invited to see progress at the scheme along with other trustees from the charity. He said: “I am very happy to see the progress being made with these new properties that will provide quality homes for people over 60. Importantly they are energy efficient and will help with our green agenda. These properties will also help provide a greater improvement to the general Health and Wellbeing of those moving into their new properties. This is one of a number of housing schemes that collectively are helping regenerate the city.”

Councillor John Black, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for housing, said: “We are happy to support this project by Pickering and Ferens Homes which is another boost to the city’s plans to drive up the quality and choice of housing in Hull. The scheme compliments Pickering and Ferens Homes’ other projects in Junella Fields and Rokeby Mews, working alongside the council’s wider housing regeneration in the west of the city.”

Jason Papprill, managing director of Hobson and Porter, said: “We are delighted to again be involved with Pickering and Ferens Homes in delivering a first class development in the city which provides much needed, high quality accommodation and adds to the city’s commitment of housing regeneration and improvement.”

Pickering and Ferens Homes also recently opened new developments at Junella Fields and Rokeby Mews, where residents are now fully installed and delighted with their new homes.