DEAL SIGNED OVER NEWINGTON REDEVELOPMENT

A deal has been signed to move forward with plans to regenerate part of Ramsgate’s Newington estate.

The plans will see the Centre, which has been plagued with anti-social behaviour in recent years, demolished and replaced with 21 brand new family houses and six apartments.

The scheme had been in doubt, after Town and Country Housing Association, who were due to carry out the redevelopment on behalf of the council, withdrew from the project in early March. They’ve now been replaced by a new partner, Orbit South, a local housing association that already has roots in the Ramsgate area, where they currently own and manage 2,800 rented homes.

The council’s Community Services Manager, Madeline Homer, said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to reach an agreement with Orbit South to take this scheme forward. It’s something that’s desperately needed in Newington, especially as residents have already moved out of their homes. Our priority now is to move ahead with this project as quickly as we can to improve facilities in Newington.”

Maggie McCann, Development Director for Orbit South, said: “We are committed to providing affordable homes for people in Ramsgate and are pleased that we have been able to step in and help move this project forward. We look forward to welcoming local residents back into their new homes when they are completed.”

The Homes and Communities Agency, the national housing and regeneration agency, has also now confirmed its financial support to unlock the scheme.

Akin Durowoju, Head of Area at the HCA, said: “It has been a tremendous effort by everyone involved to get these much-needed new affordable homes back on track. As well as providing vital housing options in Newington, there is also a welcome boost to the local economy with new construction jobs and long-term employment opportunities in the commercial building.”

It is hoped that work on the project will start later this year. As well as the houses and apartments, the first phase will also see a new building for commercial use and road improvements, with the roundabout at the Centre removed.

Notes

About Orbit South:

• Orbit South owns and manages 12,000 homes in Kent, East Sussex, Surrey and South London.
• The association is part of the Orbit Group, one of the largest housing groups in the country operating in the Midlands, the South East and the East of England providing over 34,000 high quality affordable homes to those in housing need.
• Orbit Group Ltd, Orbit Heart of England, Orbit South Housing Association Ltd, Orbit East, Heart of England Housing & Care, Orbit First Step and Orbit New Homes are part of the Orbit Group.
• Orbit South employs approximately 250 staff.
• Orbit South works in partnership with local authorities to develop new affordable homes, including Bexley, Sutton, Croydon, Medway, Thanet, Dover, Ashord, Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling, Maidstone, Hastings, Rother, Wealden, Reigate and Banstead, and Epsom and Ewell.

Orbit Group Limited, Orbit South Housing Association Limited and Heart of England Housing Association Limited are exempt charities

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England.  Our role is to create opportunity for people to live in high quality, sustainable places. We provide funding for affordable housing, bring land back into productive use and improve quality of life by raising standards for the physical and social environment.

For more information visit www.homesandcommunities.co.uk