THE old gas works in Saltisford is to be converted into 14 rented flats, with an additional nine houses built around the back on the site of the closed fire station.
Warwick gas works becomes homes - ten years on
Councillor Norman Vincett, the district councillor responsible for housing and property services, announced the news at the Warwick site earlier this week after agreement was reached with builders Waterloo Housing.
Cllr Vincett said: “The old gas works is a Grade II listed building and has stood empty for more than ten years. The listing, largely for reasons of historical interest, has made development difficult and so the council is particularly pleased that a solution has now been found.”
All the converted flats will be for rent but the nine houses at the rear will be for sale at ‘affordable’ prices.
Councillors are pleased that the attractive building, which forms a significant landmark in the town, will provide much-needed housing. The development cash will also pay for improvements to the nearby park.
In the eighteenth century the Saltisford arm of the Grand Union Canal was used to transport coal down to the works to be converted into gas for the town.
Anthony Riley, director of operations and development at Waterloo Housing said: “Over the past 12 months this is one of a number of affordable housing schemes we have developed with Warwick District Council and with the W2 Partnership, which provides new homes for people on the housing waiting list.
“By acquiring the gas works offices and fire station and putting the two sites together, we will be able to attract over half a million pounds of central Government cash into Warwick town centre to finance the scheme.”
Preliminary discussions have already been held with planning officers ahead of the submission of a formal planning application in the next few weeks.
Mr Riley said after submitting the application he anticipated working alongside the district council and using local firms and labour to build the new homes.
The results of a feasibility study into the medieval and practically derelict Leper Hospital, nearby, is expected within the next few months.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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