Boost for Fenland as new affordable homes are completed

Platform Housing Group, which manages almost 50,000 homes, has worked with the local authority and builders R G Carter, to produce Skylark, a 137-home site offering much needed housing for the area via 30 shared ownership properties and 97 affordable rented homes.

Celebrating the completion of Skylark. Pictured, from left, are: Cllr Samantha Hoy, Fenland District Council's Portfolio Holder for Housing and town, district and county councillor for Wisbech; Sharon Forbes, Sustainable Travel Planning Manager from Smart Journeys at Cambridgeshire County Council; the Mayor of Wisbech, Cllr Sidney Imafidon; Elizabeth Froude, Chief Executive Officer at Platform Housing Group and Gerraint Oakley, Executive Director, Growth and Development at Platform Housing Group.

Elizabeth Froude, Group Chief Executive at Platform Housing Group said: "This is the first time we have worked with Fenland District Council and we are absolutely delighted to see this development come to fruition, providing local people with a place to call home.  We are committed to providing more such homes in the area and look forward to strengthening our partnerships in the region."

Neal Wheatley, Director and General Manager of R G Carter Lincoln said: "We have been delighted to have worked in partnership with Platform Housing Group to deliver the new Skylark development in the town of Wisbech.  It is great to see these much needed houses now complete, ready for residents to enjoy within the community."

Councillor Samantha Hoy, Fenland District Council's Portfolio Holder for Housing and town, district and county councillor for Wisbech, added: "We have worked closely with Platform Housing Group throughout this exciting project, so I was delighted to join representatives at Skylark recently to see how our shared vision for the site has become a reality.

"We look forward to working with the association again in future to help meet the housing needs of local people for years to come."

Cambridgeshire County Council's Smart Journeys team have also been key to the development, working to bring residents' sustainable travel solutions for moving around the area.

Sharon Forbes, Sustainable Travel Planning Manager from Smart Journeys at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "Smart Journeys aim to encourage and support Skylark residents with their daily sustainable travel needs, where possible, whether it be to commute to work, school, college, going to the shops or heading out for a day trip with friends or family.  Sustainable and active travel, for example, like bike riding or walking not only helps promote good physical health and mental wellbeing but also connects people, bringing communities together.  We understand that there can be barriers travelling more sustainably due to challenges with transport infrastructure; however, we endeavour to look at ways of making sustainable travel as accessible and seamless as possible."

Smart Journeys and Platform have been working in partnership to provide new residents with a travel pack, helping customers make sustainable transport choices from the outset; it can be accessed at: Elm High Travel | Platform Home Ownership

At an event at the end of September, representatives from all of those involved met at the site to look around the development and one of the new homes, meet residents and chat through the work completed.  At the same time, the Smart Journey's team ran a free drop in session for free bike maintenance and hand outs of useful information.

The development represents a complete transformation of the land which was formally owned by the College of West Anglia.

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October 2024