Better Business / Member news
NHS staff celebrate new homes at Elderberry Walk
Local NHS workers are rejoicing as they settle into Elderberry Walk, a Southmead based development delivering 161 new homes in Bristol. The collaborative effort involving BBRC Homes, Cheyne Social Property Impact Fund, Brighter Places Housing Association, and Bristol City Council aims to provide affordable housing for locals and key workers.
BBRC Homes has secured 61 properties on a long lease, including 21 with a 10 per cent discount for key workers, 27 for long term market rent, and 13 Rent to Buy homes. The completion of the final 24 one and two bed flats, now available for key workers and open market rent, marks a milestone in the project.
For key worker flats, prioritisation is based on local connections, family ties in Bristol, and income thresholds, targeting low to middle income earners. The six two bed flats for open market rent generated immense interest, with 54 applications within the first 36 hours, and 90 per cent now occupied.
Ed Rowberry, CEO of BBRC Homes, praises Elderberry Walk as a groundbreaking scheme addressing the city’s housing crisis. The development received accolades, winning ‘Best large scheme in planning’ at the National Housing Awards and earning recognition from the World Economic Forum.
Ajeesh Abraham, a care assistant at Southmead Hospital and one of the new tenants, expresses joy over the convenient location that allows walking to work. Medeah Ankrah, a health care assistant, appreciates the proximity to her workplace and the inviting atmosphere of the estate.
Elderberry Walk, initiated in 2017 and set to complete by the end of 2023, emphasizes sustainability with an EPC B rating for all units and promotes healthy living through cycle routes, green spaces, and food production opportunities. The development offers six home types to foster a diverse community.
In light of the persistent housing challenges in the UK, particularly in the South West, where median house prices are 10 times median salaries, Elderberry Walk stands out as a vital solution addressing the growing need for affordable and quality housing in Bristol.
Main photo: Barbara Evripidou, First Avenue Photography
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