Redundant eyesore to be affordable flats
Cllrs Ann Bonner, Margaret Cullip and Debbie Pickford outside the house on West Street, Grimsbury.
Steps to transform a redundant eyesore in Banbury into affordable housing have moved forward after Cherwell District Council finalised the sale of the property.
Last year, the council announced its intention to work with housing association A2Dominion to create affordable apartments at 1 West Street in Grimsbury.
The building, which was previously owned by A2Dominion, will undergo a major refurbishment project to create five new flats as part of the council’s Build! project, which aims to help people to take a role in building their own homes.
Grimsbury and Castle ward councillor Ann Bonner said: “This is fantastic news. It has taken years of hard work so I am absolutely jubilant that we have finally secured a deal for this property. This will become a focal point for the start of the conservation area in Grimsbury and it is down to the hard work of our officers who have pushed this through against all of the odds. This is an excellent conclusion to what will be the start of a vital regeneration for the area and I now look forward to watching the plans unfold.”
The building, which is believed to be about 150 years old, has been empty for about five years and is currently fenced off with metal plates covering windows to prevent vandalism.
The majority of the work will be done as part of the Build! project, which encourages people to take part in the refurbishment programme to gain skills and experience while working to build their own home which they can move into upon completion. External work has already started with pre-apprentices from ACE Training repairing a crumbling wall and tutors from ACE will be holding ‘have a go’ sessions for the public at West Street every Tuesday this month, starting on March 12 from 10.30am.
Planning applications are expected to be submitted in the coming weeks and if approved, work could begin this summer.
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Tuesday 18 June 2013
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