More Homes For Phase One
First Wessex (Pavilion Housing) has announced to residents revised plans for the phasing (timing) of the redevelopment of My North Town and has now given residents copies of the plan of works for the whole estate. Previously the association published the first three phases but were unable to say when work on Pegasus Avenue and parts of Denmark Square would start. It has now published the timetable for all six phases covering the whole area.
Hazel Warwick, Group Development Director for First Wessex explains:
“We have made changes to the early phases to allow us to develop faster in the first few years thereby reducing the time our residents spend in temporary accommodation. The main change is to make the first phase larger by adding areas that we had previously planned to do later. Alltogether, the number of new homes in Phase 1 will increase from 55 to 157 properties.
“The area that we previously called Phase 1 will now be called Phase 1A. We also propose that part of Denmark Square (nos 139-180),and 51-73 Eastern Road , which were to have been in the third phase, are brought forward for inclusion as Phase 1B starting May 2011. We also propose to include Queen Street as Phase 1C also starting in May 2011.
“The impact of these changes is that residents in Phase 1A should have a shorter stay in interim accommodation before they are permanently re-housed - from a possible three years to 18 months.
“Phase 2 will stay the same but will start six months later than previously, because of the additional work we are adding to Phase 1. However, we still expect to complete the replacement for Alma House by February 2011.
“Phase 3 will now extend through to Deadbrook Lane and will still start around November 2012. Phase 4, starting around February 2013, includes blocks in Denmark Sq (43-54, 55-66, 67-78) and some of Pegasus Avenue (25-59, 61-95 97-119 (odds in all three blocks)
“The redevelopment of the shops and flats above as well as the North Town Base will be Phase 5 starting May 2014. The rest of Pegasus Avenue and Denmark Square
will be in Phase 6 which will be starting May 2015. By this time, all the current residents will have been permanently re-housed. The end date of the project is expected to complete in 2017.”
First Wessex also confirmed that all residents in Phase 1A have received letters to arrange individual consultation meetings to tell them about offers of temporary accommodation and permanent re-housing. All of these timings are subject to negotiations with Leaseholders in each phase.
My North Town Team has organised drop in sessions at The North Town Base on:
Monday 18 January (9.30-12.30 am),
Wednesday 20 January (1.30-4.30pm and 5.30-8.30pm)
Saturday 23 January (10am-4pm)
People can come and see a display of the new phasing plans and talk to staff from First Wessex and Rushmoor Borough Council to answer any queries. People can also view a virtual tour of the regenerated estate on My North Town website: www.mynorthtown.net.
The new proposed timing for the first three phases of the Renewal Project is:
Start work on site for Phase One Spring 2010
Complete Alma House replacement February 2011
Complete Phase One & start Phase Two Winter 2011
Complete Phase Two & start Phase Three Winter 2012
Complete Phase Three and start Phase Four Spring 2013
Complete Phase Four and start Phase Five Spring 2014
Complete Phase Five and start Phase Six Spring 2015
Complete project 2017
First Wessex is currently short listing the contractors who have responded to the tender. The short listed contractors will receive a “Tender Package” and there will then be a six week tender period until the end of February. All short listed contractors will be interviewed. The newly formed My North Town Residents’ Consultative Group will be invited to participate in this process. The appointment of the contractor will take place at the end of March with the appropriate lead-in period.
The My North Town Enquiry Line 0800 358 0459 is still available for interested residents to call for any further information.”
