Estate rebuild move closer

An ambitious plan to bulldoze and rebuild a council housing estate in Staffordshire has moved a step closer after the council signed a deal with a construction firm and a housing association.

Cannock Chase Council wants to flatten 100 homes in the Elizabeth Road area of Chadsmoor and replace them with 130 homes. It has announced the redevelopment project is moving into the next stage after it appointed Waterloo Housing Association and Thomas Vale Construction as its partners.

The Elizabeth Road estate, built between 1945 and 1950, includes 100 non-traditional pre-cast re-inforced concrete semi- detached properties.

These houses were subjected to a survey in 2002 which found they required extensive structural work.

All residents will be relocated off the estate before the redevelopment starts and existing council tenants would be rehoused in alternative council housing.

Programming and planning for the Elizabeth Road scheme is now under way, after having been approved by the council's cabinet in October.

On the new estate, there will be a choice of homes for rent, managed by Waterloo Housing Association, or to buy outright or through shared ownership with Waterloo.

In addition, open spaces will be redesigned and re-landscaped and new play facilities will be provided. Proposals for a community facility and new road layout are also being considered.

All residents and private landlords in the Elizabeth Road area have been informed of the new partnership, along with residents in neighbouring properties.

Waterloo Housing Association has worked with the council to provide affordable homes for more than 20 years and Thomas Vale Construction has earned the title Contractor of the Year six times in the last nine years.

Ian Tennant, head of housing at the council, said: "We have worked successfully with Waterloo and Thomas Vale Construction before and very much look forward to our partnership to deliver the Elizabeth Road scheme." Chris Jones, of Waterloo Housing, said: "It's an exciting project."