Camp Hill names Barratt as Preferred Developer

 

Pride in Camp Hill, a regeneration initiative based in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, has named Barratt Homes as the house builder tasked to deliver the contract for Phase Three, which will see over 800 homes built over the next 8 years .

 

Phase Three is the largest contract to be awarded from the Pride in Camp Hill project that is set to transform the area which stretches from Queen Elizabeth Road to Edinburgh Road and covers some 15 hectares.

 

Local residents played a key role in the decision to give Barratt the preferred developer status for Phase Three.  A tender panel consisting of local residents and key partners scrutinised a number of bids from regional and national developers before selecting Barratt as the preferred developer.

 

Local Residents’ Forum Chair Ann Corbett said:  “This is a very exciting time for Camp Hill.  Barratt has outlined a number of innovative ideas to develop Phase Three, not just building homes but also in enhancing the local community.

 

“The tender process was lengthy, very detailed and demanded the highest level of scrutiny. All the local residents involved in the tender process wanted to ensure that the residents of Camp Hill got the best deal. We had, and still have high expectations.”

 

Subject to planning permission being granted, Barratt is expected to be on site by summer 2008. The properties will range from one-bed apartments to four-bed family homes and will include properties for affordable rent and shared ownership as well as open market sale.

 

Dennis Harvey, Leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, said: “We are pleased to have a national developer of the stature of Barratt helping us deliver the final phase of the Pride in Camp Hill regeneration initiative. We are absolutely delighted that Barratt, like us, sees this as so much more than just bricks and mortar.”

 

Chris Egan, Phase Three Project Manager at Pride in Camp Hill, said: “Barratt offered us a tender that was cost effective and best met the quality standards set by the Pride in Camp Hill Partnership. We wanted a developer that made best use of the large rising gradient on the site and a company which would also pledge to train and employ local people as well as sourcing material locally.”

 

PinCH plan to hold a local community event in Camp Hill around November 2007.  This will give those residents directly affected the chance to find out more detail on the proposed development.

 

Peter Murray, West Midlands Area Director of national regeneration agency, English Partnerships, said: “This is an important moment in the evolution of Camp Hill and it was critical that a developer of the stature and experience of Barratt should take it forward.”

 

“This is very much about building and nurturing communities so, although the highest quality, sustainable design is key to this next phase of development, the wider social, economic and environmental regeneration is also critical. The investment made by English Partnerships will support an early acquisitions programme helping to unlock and accelerate development of the site.”

 

“The redevelopment will be supported by a managed relocations process to ensure that existing residents are provided with choices including priority allocation of social housing within the redevelopment area.”

 

Pride in Camp Hill set to work in 2001 to regenerate the physical environment of the mining area and also improve the social, educational and economic outlook of the area with training initiatives, new groups and partnerships with the local police, education authority and councils.

“Camp Hill is a hugely exciting urban regeneration project and Barratt is looking forward to delivering it,” said Mark Clare, CEO of Barratt Developments PLC.

 

“Barratt has an outstanding track record of breathing new life into areas which are in need of new investment. We have delivered difficult and complex schemes in London’s Docklands and Swiss Cottage and 80 per cent of what we build is on brownfield sites.”

 

“I believe that this development will provide the right mix of social and economic rejuvenation for the people of Camp Hill.”

The work to be completed by Barratt - which is expected to start in 2008 - is one part of the entire regeneration of the former mining area. Pride in Camp Hill has already overseen the building of 172 new homes by Lovell in Phase One of the project and the opening of a £2 million community building. Work is also taking place in Phase Two to complete nine retail units and 230 new homes as part of a project to complete a new thriving village centre.

 

 

For further information please contact Amanda Govani, Pride in Camp Hill, 024 7639 9093.  www.prideincamphill.co.uk