Stanhope - Ashford, Kent

As the bidding and management lead for the ‘Chrysalis Consortium' Gleeson Capital Solutions is playing a key role in delivering the regeneration of this 1960's Local Authority Estate – fully satisfying the criteria of Ashford Borough Council and the varied needs of tenants, existing right-to-buy home owners, new RSL home purchaser and private homebuyers.

Gleeson Capital Solutions partnered with Moat Housing Group and Nationwide Building Society to form ‘Chrysalis' the bidding and management vehicle for Stanhope as equal partners.

Capital Solutions were able to involve their fellow Gleeson Group colleagues in Gleeson Homes as development partners and Powerminster as Housing Maintenance provider and refurbishment sub-contractor. The refurbishment construction partner is Denne Construction who is also appointed as the new build housing contractor for Gleeson Homes.

The original estate incorporated some 440 flats built in ten five storey blocks surrounded by some 860 terraced houses. Nearly two thirds of the houses had been purchased under the Right-to-buy and are now privately owned.

The regeneration proposals involve the Decent Homes refurbishment of 333

houses together with the improvement of the surrounding public areas. All the flats which have been problematic and difficult to let, are being demolished to make way for 442 new homes for rent, shared ownership and private sale.

Chrysalis will build a new Legacy Building adjacent to the Parish Rooms at the heart of Stanhope. This will provide accommodation for the Neighbourhood Housing Management and Maintenance Team, the Stanhope Library and Meeting Room for the community.

A new local centre incorporating a selection of shops including a Post Office and a pub/restaurant will be built adjacent to the main road to improve sustainability.

The underlying aim of the Chrysalis proposal is to create a sustainable, vibrant community integrated with the wider community of Ashford. Chrysalis has approached this by offering a durable quality design solution that addresses the problems of the current Radburn layout and integrates new development that builds on and reflects the existing layout.

Sustainable regeneration is not just about design but also about strong local management and maintaining the environment. The Chrysalis Neighbourhood Office provides a seamless housing management, responsive and planned maintenance presence to both the existing tenanted properties and the new affordable housing.

All the new homes are built to Eco Homes ‘Very Good' standards with the affordable homes also achieving ‘Lifetime Homes' standard. The refurbishment started in April 2007 and will complete in April 2010, the new development is planned to complete in 2012.

The mix of tenures with rented, intermediate rent, shared ownership and private homeowners has been greeted enthusiastically by residents who see the whole process as genuinely contributing to providing a sustainable community in which everybody has a sense of ownership and pride.