Date published: 06 September 2023
Stonewater has completed a stock transfer of homes and the purchase of accompanying land in Gloucestershire, as part of its ambitious plans to provide more affordable, high-quality homes across the country.
In a recent event held to celebrate the completion of the transfer of homes at Manor Gardens from Barnwood Trust, Stonewater shared its investment plans for the historic estate. These include delivering 50 new high quality, low carbon homes in an inclusive and integrated housing scheme, specialising in meeting the needs of people with mental and physical health challenges as well as general housing needs.
Following a tender process, Barnwood Trust chose Stonewater to own and manage the Manor Gardens site, which will be redeveloped to provide a mixture of accessible apartments and family homes at Manor Gardens itself as well as two new bungalows built at the adjacent Newstead Road.
The transfer of homes from Barnwood Trust, a disability charity that campaigns to change conditions for disabled people and people with mental health conditions in Gloucestershire, will also see Stonewater convert the estate’s Manor House into a community space, offices and a further four apartments, two of which will be fully accessible.
The event was attended by representatives from Stonewater, Barnwood Trust, Gloucester Council and Rund Partnerships, all of whom were part of this dynamic Manor Gardens Estate partnership. The investment plans for creating the new homes are supported by Homes England in the form of Stonewater's Strategic Partnership Grant Funding.
Ann Santry, Chair of Trustees at Barnwood Trust, said of the transfer: "Stonewater has an outstanding record of both delivering housing management, working closely with its residents and local communities, and development of new high-quality homes.
"We were impressed by their proposals for Manor Gardens and getting to this point is the outcome of a very positive and constructive partnership. The trustees are delighted that going forward our existing residents will have the benefit of a more experienced landlord and our original plans for the new housing will be delivered."
In the next chapter for Manor Gardens Estate, a dedicated housing and wellbeing team will support customers’ diverse needs. Manor Gardens gardeners have been retained and will continue the grand job of maintaining this integral green heart of the estate. Stonewater also aims to explore and establish horticulture social enterprise, benefitting the local area with opportunities and green space within the community.
Matt Crucefix, Director of Development (South and West) at Stonewater, said: "Manor Gardens is an important redevelopment project that will bring contemporary affordable homes to Gloucester that meet the wide-ranging and diverse needs of local people.
“With Stonewater's wealth of experience and knowledge, customers can rest assured they will continue to receive a high-quality service, and the wider community will also benefit from our plans for this fantastic site, with additional new homes and community provisions."
Stonewater expects the building development to take approximately two years to complete.