Flats provide much-needed homes

More than 100 new flats have been developed as part a scheme in Borehamwood, providing much-needed homes.

Foster House, in Maxwell Road, provides 114 one and two-bedroomed flats, all of which meet with level three of the Government’s Code for Sustainable homes.

Hertsmere Borough Council worked closely with Aldwyck Housing Association, developers Bellway Homes, and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA)to secure a social housing grant from the HCA to enable the affordable units to be built and ensure they were to a very high standard.

Aldwyck Housing Association will own 29 of the flats: 20 will be rented and nine will be sold on a shared-ownership basis. Each has one parking space available in the adjacent multi-storey car parking area, while the homes themselves incorporate large storage areas, including a bike store in every flat.

Hertsmere Borough Council has 100% nomination rights on the 20 flats to rent, which means those in most need on the housing waiting list can bid to live there and all are now allocated. The remaining 85 flats are for private sale.

Cllr Hannah David, portfolio holder for housing and planning, said: "Hertsmere as a council is required to build thousands of homes in its borough to meet government requirements so it is very important to us that what we provide is to a high standard and right for local communities.

“This particular development is to a very high standard and in a great location. We hope that people will enjoy living there."

Neil Hadden, Aldwyck’s Chief Executive, added: "Foster House is the culmination of a close partnership between the Aldwyck, Hertsmere and Bellway. In the current difficult housing market, it is essential that the public and private sector work together to ensure delivery of new homes, particularly much-needed affordable accommodation and Foster House shows this positive approach."

The Government’s Code for Sustainable homes measures the sustainability of a new home against nine categories of sustainable design, rating the whole home as a complete package. The Code uses a one to six star rating system and sets minimum standards for energy and water use and, within England, replaces the EcoHomes scheme, developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). The design categories included within The Code for Sustainable Homes are:

• energy
• water
• materials
• surface water run-off
• waste
• pollution
• health and well-being
• management
• ecology