South Swindon MP Heidi Alexander visited Green Square Accord's new Oakfield development to welcome residents.
GreenSquareAccord (GSA), one of England’s largest housing associations, has now handed over the keys to 71 new energy-efficient affordable homes at the innovative development.
To celebrate the milestone, local MP Ms Alexander was invited to meet some of the latest arrivals who have found their new home within the Oakfield community.
All the homes at Oakfield have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of A, achieved through fitting photovoltaic solar panels to generate electricity, and are heated by air source heat pumps instead of gas boilers.
The MP said: “With so many Swindon families in need of affordable housing, it’s heartening to see the delivery of high quality, sustainable homes.
"This Government is committed to a new era of housebuilding to end the housing crisis and GreenSquareAccord’s Oakfield development sets a brilliant example of how we can build the homes people need while tackling the climate crisis head on.”
During her visit, Ms Alexander was impressed to see that the homes at the development have integrated appliances, quality flooring, solid wood doors and double glazing included as standard.
GSA’s homes at the Oakfield development cater to a variety of housing need by providing 42 one-bedroom apartments and maisonettes which are reserved for affordable rent, alongside 29 two and three-bedroom houses which are available under a shared ownership scheme.
Jess, a GSA customer who recently moved into Oakfield, said: “I have really struck lucky with my new home. It is a great living space surrounded by trees and green open space with a very welcoming community. This is the first time I have lived away from home, so I was nervous to begin with but now I am feeling settled and secure.”
Homes made available under shared ownership are complete with a private garden that contains a lockable bike shed.
Mike Nolan, Head of Development at GSA, said: “We are delighted to have completed handovers at this truly special development with a thriving community.
“Earlier phases of the scheme saw our customers moving into homes purchased under a shared ownership scheme and into apartments reserved for affordable rent.
“The apartments sit above a community hub, which will serve as a focal point for Oakfield residents containing a large bookable room available for functions and meetings, storage for cycles and mobility scooters, office space and a kitchen.”
The £60m Oakfield project was designed by Metropolitan Workshop and PRP architects and is being delivered by Nationwide Building Society and B-Corp development partner, igloo Regeneration. igloo worked closely with the local community to shape the planning, delivery and design of the neighbourhood.
As a result, the project secured Planning permission without any objections and has already won several awards, including the Housing Design Awards in the ‘building for a healthy life’ category.
John Long, Executive Director at igloo, said: “We worked closely with Nationwide, the design team and the local community to develop the plans for Oakfield and we are really proud of what has been achieved here. With 30 percent of the scheme allocated to affordable housing, it was important to us that these properties were spread well around the scheme to maximise choice and are of the same high quality as the 70 percent of homes for private sale.
"Now that the remaining residents are moving in, the neighbourhood will really start to come to life, and we look forward to seeing the community thrive.”
When complete, the development will provide a total of 239 homes, 71 of which are earmarked for affordable housing and are now occupied by GSA customers.
Car parking has been limited at Oakfield to maximise space for landscape and people. Each home has parking for one or two cars, depending on size, alongside visitor parking.
Incoming residents to Oakfield will be well-connected by public transport with bus stops a short walk away from the scheme and the Greenbridge Retail Park which boasts a gym, restaurants and a supermarket close by.
GSA own and manage 25,000 homes in diverse communities across the West Midlands and South West. The organisation is a not-for-profit and specialises in involving customers and communities in shaping the homes and services it provides and are proud to play an active role in dealing with the consequences of the housing crisis by providing affordable homes for people in our communities who need them most.
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