Stonewater bands together with other organisations to deliver community housing for military veterans in Herefordshire.
Housing association Stonewater is working with Community Self Build Agency (now part of Alabaré, a leading UK provider of supported housing) and The Royal British Legion to deliver a community build development in Leominster, Hereford.
Work on the community housing development is underway, with plans to build 19 new homes. The mixed development will consist of one- to two-bedroom flats and one to three-bedroom houses, all available for affordable rent with a proportion of the properties allocated exclusively for ex-service personnel.
Stonewater’s Waterworks Lane project aims to demonstrate how organisations can work with local councils and charities to provide much-needed new homes to those that need them most, but in the process provide these individuals and their families with valuable and transferable skills that they can then bring into the workplace.
The project will see up to nine veterans, who will all receive training and support, working alongside Stonewater’s local contractor at the development. The veterans who work on the project will then be able to rent one of the homes upon completion.
Matthew Crucefix, Assistant Director of Development (West), said: “At Stonewater our commitment to providing everyone with a place they can call home is at the core of everything we do. We’re proud to lead the way alongside our community partners and show other organisations how important schemes like this are for the wider community.”
Harper Group Construction Ltd is the local delivery contractor for the project. Michael Harvey, Group Commercial Director of Harper Group Construction, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this prestigious local project. We are looking forward to working closely with the team at Stonewater to produce a high quality development in addition to helping local veterans gain valuable experience within the construction industry.”
Councillor Barry Durkin, at Herefordshire Council, said: “We are committed to supporting local veterans across Herefordshire and this new self-build partnership with Stonewater and Alabaré is a great opportunity to provide more affordable housing for veterans.”
Major (Retired) Ken Hames MBE at Alabaré, said: “We’ve worked on similar projects in other parts of the country which, whilst challenging to get off the ground, really make a long-term difference. For the veterans fortunate enough to be part of the project they have a unique opportunity to gain the skills that could lead to long term employment, and the support to ultimately be able to live successful, independent lives once more. Together they will be creating a community that they can call home.”
