Construction has started on the regeneration of Ripleyville, an affordable housing scheme in Bradford operated and managed by Accent Housing.
The previous Ripleyville development was built in the early 1970s and comprised 162 non-traditional system built flats along with two bungalows. Following an extensive consultation exercise with our customers and local residents, the unanimous decision was made to demolish the ageing, poor quality flats and regenerate the entire site.
Work started on site earlier this month, with construction partner Esh already progressing with the initial groundworks.
Placing an emphasis on multi-generational living, a variety of 73 homes for affordable rent will be built. These include small homes for single people or couples, as well as homes that meet the needs of large family groups. The regeneration of Ripleyville will have a lasting impact on the surrounding area and transform the appearance of the neighbourhood.
All of the properties have been designed to be highly energy-efficient using a “Fabric First” approach. There will be no gas supply to the scheme; instead, an approach including air source heat pumps and Photovoltaic (PV) panels will be adopted. Each home will achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘A’ which will help customers to reduce the cost of their energy bills. Accent is investigating proposals to achieve an enhanced sustainability requirement such as Net Zero Carbon Emissions or the Future Homes Standard.
Sarah Ireland, Executive Director of Strategy and Growth at Accent Housing said: “The regeneration of Ripleyville is a key development for Accent Housing and is a project that allows us to demonstrate our continued commitment to providing top-standard homes for our customers that truly meet their needs, and to be innovative. The new scheme will provide family-sized homes, as opposed to the previous apartments which will meet the needs of multi-generational families. It will also meet the identified local housing need, providing large five-bedroom homes and wheelchair-friendly bungalows as well as a variety of other house types.
“The benefits to the community, culture and economy of this area will be significant, with a refreshed focus on family living. 73 new families will be able to support local businesses, use transport links and attend local schools – all adding to a greater feeling of neighbourhood and community.”
Accent Housing has worked closely with customers, Bradford Council and other external stakeholders throughout the consultation and planning stages. Ripleyville will be delivered as part of Accent’s Strategic Partnership with Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, and has received a grant from the affordable housing programme 2021-2026. In total, Accent has committed to deliver 2,809 new affordable homes by 2028 through this partnership with Homes England.
Simon Woodward, Operations Director at Esh Construction, said: “This contract award marks the first scheme we have delivered with Accent in several years within Yorkshire, demonstrating our continued growth across the region. The redevelopment of Ripleyville is of huge significance in the local area and will deliver great benefit to the community for years to come. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Accent on this major regeneration project and look forward to delivering both social and economic value throughout the scheme.”
