A FLAGSHIP council housing development near Rugby town centre has welcomed its first tenants.
The Bell House development has brought a derelict site in Lawford Road back into use, and includes 13 one-bedroomed flats, five two-bedroomed apartments, communal gardens and car parking.
The development was funded by Rugby Borough Council (RBC) with support from Homes England.
The site, a former care home, had stood empty for nearly a decade and had become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
It was bought by the council in 2017 and demolished two years later, with building work by Rugby-based company Symon Construction starting in the autumn of 2020.
The council handed tenants the keys to the new flats within weeks of the development’s completion in February.
Council construction project manager Veleta Brown (centre) took Coun Carolyn Robbins (left) and Coun Emma Crane (right) on a tour of the new flats at Bell House.
Coun Emma Crane, RBC’s spokeswoman for communities, homes, digital and communications, said the Bell House development formed part of the council’s drive to increase the quantity and quality of social housing in the borough.
She said: “Expanding and improving the council’s housing portfolio remains one of our key priorities, ensuring we have the right mix of homes to meet the needs of our residents.
“In addition to working in partnership with housing associations to provide affordable housing and buying homes from the private sector, we have committed to an ambitious programme of development, with plans for the regeneration of the Biart Place site set to be unveiled soon and the redevelopment of Rounds Gardens to follow.
“With the support of Homes England, we’re delighted to have brought the derelict Bell House site back into use, providing tenants with high-quality, modern flats in a popular location near the town centre.”
The council adopted its new Housing Strategy for 2022-2024 at a full council meeting on Monday (March 14). Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/housingstrategy for more information.
