Oakfield Gardens big launch
In March Radian officially opened the Oakfield Gardens site of 63 properties on Winchester Road. Working in partnership with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Southampton City Council, Ability Housing Association and Orchard Homes, the scheme was officially opened by Councillor Peter Baillie, Cabinet Member for Housing, at an on-site ribbon cutting ceremony.
The site was formerly a residential care home owned by Southampton Primary Care Trust but when it was identified that there was no longer a requirement for the home and that housing would be more appropriate in the location, the care home was closed. Working in partnership, all parties were able to secure an affordable housing scheme on a site that otherwise would have been largely private housing.
Andrea Smith, Radian's Director of Development and New Business said, "We're delighted to be providing these much-needed affordable homes in Southampton. This scheme offers choice in tenure, as well as homes that meet a wide variety of needs and has been made possible thanks to the support of the Homes & Communities Agency and Southampton City Council, our partnership with Ability Housing Association and Orchard Homes, and the hard work of our consultant teams."
The design of the scheme has incorporated a mix of tenures and property types, from one bedroom flats to a seven bedroom house, to ensure a balanced and sustainable community. Amongst the 58 one and two bed flats, specific accommodation has been provided by Ability Housing Association for wheelchair users and people with learning disabilities. Some of these individual adaptations include wet rooms and specially designed kitchens to ease use. Ability provided specialist design advice and worked with tenants and their occupational therapists to make further adaptations including installing grab rails, shower seats, and adjustable sinks, cookers and worktops where needed.
All the homes meet the HCA's Design and Quality Standards, have achieved Secured by Design certification and are built to at least a Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3, with technologies installed including air source heat pumps, solar thermal hot water and whole-house mechanical heat recovery and ventilation.
Councillor Peter Baillie, Cabinet Member for Housing said, "Southampton City Council is committed to providing good quality, affordable homes for its residents and Oakfield Gardens is a great step in meeting this aspiration, offering as it does affordable homes for rent and sale. Radian and Orchard Homes have created homes where people will want to live, now and in the future, and this has been supported through funding from the Homes and Community Agency."
