Old boots to des res
A listed building and home to a former
boot factory has been dramatically transformed to provide 31 new
homes. The site is located in Wellingborough Road, Finedon a small
parish town with a population of approximately 4,000.
The need for homes
Following consultation between Longhurst
Group’s Development team (POD) and the Borough Council of
Wellingborough, it became evident that there was a need for new
affordable housing in the area of a mixed tenure. The site,
with planning permission already in place was purchased back in
2007, but due to lack of funding at that time had to be land
banked. However, in February 2009 the Homes and Communities Agency
(HCA) approved the grant and work was able to get underway to
provide 31 new homes of mixed tenure.
Beyond The Brief
Discussions with the Borough Council
highlighted their 2005 Housing Needs Survey, which greatly
influenced the housing mix. The Council consulted the local Parish
Council and arranged for a housing needs survey to be carried out
in partnership.
Restored to its former glory
The property plays a significant role in
maintaining Finedon’s heritage and history. Working closely with
the Council’s conservation officer and contractor Westleigh the
development team ensured that some of the original features were
retained: such as the aluminium windows, thus restoring the old
factory to its former glory, this work has been funded by the
Borough Council. In keeping with the surrounding area timber
windows have been being installed to all of the new build
properties.
Waste not... want not
Construction waste has been recycled on this
development at an average of 95%, as part of Spire Homes and
Longhurst Group’s (POD’s) commitment to the national ‘halve waste
to landfill’ campaign. The homes at Wellingborough Road have air
source heat pumps for their heating and hot water, which keep fuel
costs and carbon emissions low. With a commitment to supporting
local communities, most of the team working on the scheme were from
Wellingborough – plasterers JT Bevann, Robinson Manufacturing who
made the roof joists, and recycled bricks were obtained from WJ
Redden.
Please click on the images to enlarge