Lucy moves into the Royal Arsenal Woolwich
13 February 2008
Twenty-six year old local primary school teacher Lucy Balcombe is pictured with the keys to the door of her brand-new flat at Southern Housing Group and Berkeley Homes’ flagship regeneration and housing development at Royal Arsenal Woolwich.
Lucy’s new home is one of 20 affordable (intermediate) one and two-bedroom rental properties along with 93 shared- ownership apartments that Southern-Housing Group offers at Base 18, a former military building at Royal Arsenal Woolwich.
Lucy says as a school teacher at a local primary school it was imperative that she found an affordable home within an easily commutable distance to her job.
“I’m thrilled with my flat and it’s also a relief as previously I had a 90-minute commute to my school. It now only takes me 10 minutes on the bus, significantly reducing my travel costs and my carbon footprint,” said Lucy.
Dale Meredith, Southern Housing Group’s Group Development Director said, “we are delighted to welcome Lucy to our latest development Base 18 and that Lucy has found the home of her dreams at Royal Arsenal Woolwich. She is instrumental in building the community.”
Southern Housing Group encourages any key workers who wish to apply for a rental or shared ownership property to register their interest by contacting or logging-on to www.housingoptions.co.uk or contacting the Housing team at the London Borough of Greenwich.
For copies of these photographs please contact Tracy De Sylva on 0207 553 6491.
Notes to editors
1. The building was originally built in the early 20th Century and its purpose was as the Central Office for Royal Arsenal. After many years of dereliction Southern Housing Group and Berkeley Homes converted the building into 310 residential homes. The Section 106 agreement signed between Southern Housing Group, the London Borough of Greenwich and Berkeley Homes East Thames required 113 out of the 310 units to be affordable homes.
2. Berkeley Homes’ architects redesigned "Base 18" keeping the existing exterior facades. Sympathetic designs were made to ensure that the listed building was restored to its former glory with authentic period materials in keeping with the overall look of the scheme. The structure is built around a central courtyard with facades facing the courtyard. Traditional plasterboard construction forms the internal areas and ceilings.
3. Southern Housing Group works in partnership with The Housing Corporation, Berkeley Homes and the London Borough of Greenwich to provide affordable homes at Royal Arsenal Woolwich.