The Woodberry Down regeneration project has shown how a collaborative approach between developers, the local authority and the community can deliver the homes we need. The scheme which will deliver over 5,500 new homes is in partnership with Berkeley Homes, the London Borough of Hackney, Greater London Authority, Genesis Housing Association and Woodberry Down Community Organisation (WDCO).
This need for a collaborative approach has been recognised in Shelter's report, 'Building the Homes we need', which was published this week. It highlights the need for local authorities to work together more effectively to meet housing demand.
Berkeley's new film 'Woodberry Down - All Together' shows what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared goal.
Tony Pidgley CBE, Chairman of the Berkeley Group said:
"We have achieved something here because we found a way to collaborate. Collaboration between the public and private sectors is fundamental. It lies at the heart of all good development.
We need much more of this kind of partnership working, if we're going to tackle the housing challenge. This is how you create places which are not just about bricks and mortar but the people whose lives they will change."
The Woodberry Down regeneration programme, which this year celebrated its fifth anniversary, will deliver over 5,500 new homes for London, of which 41% will be affordable, as well as 15 acres of high quality landscaped public open spaces, community facilities and commercial opportunities.
So far, 647 jobs have been created on site and in the local neighbourhood, of which over 20% are local people from within Hackney and 40 apprentices are working on site. The project began in March 2009, at the height of the global recession, and has so far delivered over 860 new homes, with 96% of the new socially rented accommodation going to former residents.
You can view the film here.
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For further information please contact Naushabah Khan from Curtin&Co
E: naushabahk@curtinandco.com
T: +44 (0) 207 399 2299
M: +44 (0) 7885 970 973
Notes to editors:
· The Berkeley Group build homes and neighbourhoods. Our goal is to create successful places.
· In 2012, the Berkeley Group sustained 16,000 jobs and generated £2.6 billion of economic activity in Britain. It currently has a 98% customer satisfaction rate.
· The Berkeley Group was voted Britain's Most Admired Company across all industries in 2011 and has been ranked Britain's most sustainable major housebuilder for the last eight years in a row by the Next Generation benchmark.
· The Berkeley Foundation supports young people and their communities across London and the South of England through charitable donations and the talent and time of our staff.