Affordable homes is one of the best

A development of 49 new homes that has revitalised an area of Knowsley is one of the top 50 affordable housing schemes in the country.
Tiverton Close in Huyton has been chosen from thousands of projects across the UK as a best example of a scheme that has regenerated an area and provided much needed affordable housing.
The £6.3m project of flats and houses was completed by Knowsley Housing Trust, part of the First Ark group, in 2012, with partners Bramall Construction and John McCall Architects.
The Top 50 affordable Housing Developments 2013 list, compiled by Inside Housing magazine, highlights the work of the very best housing providers in the UK in securing funding and driving forward development.
Around a quarter of the homes completed in the UK last year were built by housing associations and councils and projects totaling more than 6,000 homes were entered to the judging panel for the Top 50 list.
Ian Thomson, Executive Director of Asset Management at KHT, said: “Congratulations to everyone who was involved in the scheme. It is an honour to be listed among the most innovative and transformative projects in the country.
“Tiverton was one of our most ambitious projects with a vision to completely revitalise this area of Huyton. Together with excellent design and construction, enhanced energy efficiency and security and close working with the local residents we have created sustainable homes and a dramatically improved environment that has truly changed lives.”
The list was compiled by Inside Housing magazine and a judging panel including Richard Hill, deputy chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency, Michelle Reid, chief executive of the Tenant Participation Advisory Service and Stuart Macdonald, editor of Inside Housing.
Judge Michelle Reid praised KHT’s “Outstanding resident involvement in the design and the redesign of the scheme, not just holding meetings but taking residents to other similar schemes to inspire them.”
Rundown flats that previously stood on the land were demolished to make way for the Tiverton development.
The properties have enhanced security features and eco features including solar PV panels, thermal windows, thermostat boilers and Mechanical Heat Ventilation.
Residents have recorded a 100 per cent satisfaction level with their new homes, and levels of anti-social behaviour and fly tipping in the local area have significantly reduced.
The development is one of KHT’s biggest ever housing investments and has been supported by the Homes and Communities Agency and Knowsley Council.
It has also picked up the Regeneration prize at the prestigious Knowsley Business & Regeneration Awards and was shortlisted for the North West Regeneration award in the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Awards 2013.