Work has started to replace an outdated sheltered housing scheme in Newbury with smart family homes and apartments to rent or buy.

With former residents of St Donat’s Place now safely moved into Sovereign Housing Association’s £19m Carnarvon Place over-55s apartment complex, Newbury’s biggest housing association is using the opportunity to provide much-needed family homes on the St Donat’s site in Catherine Road.

The £4.1m redevelopment – constructed by Leadbitter Construction – includes 15 houses and 11 apartments, and will see the 1909 St Donats House renovated.

Sovereign Divisional Director Heather Bowman said: “This is the first part of our programme to redevelop more than 400 homes across West Berkshire, and will see the outdated sheltered flats replaced with modern family homes, for rent and to part-buy part-rent. We’re aiming for the first new residents to move in around the second half of 2008.”

St Donat’s is one of three schemes to be redeveloped by Sovereign, after elderly residents moved into Carnarvon Place, Andover Road, in March. The redevelopment has been endorsed by the Catherine Road Residents’ Association.

Miss Bowman added: “We’ve worked hard with neighbours here to create an acceptable scheme and minimise disruption, and we intend to use this approach on other projects nearby in the near future.”

Published 3 August 2007
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