Winchester City Council officially opens 77 new homes at The Valley in Stanmore
Winchester City Council marked the completion of its latest housing scheme in Stanmore with an official opening by the Mayor of Winchester on Tuesday 7 December 2021.
The Valley in Stanmore on the outskirts of the city centre provides 77 new council homes with a range of different housing options. These include 54 properties available as social rents and three homes designed for people using a wheelchair.
Drew Smith Ltd completed the project on time and handed over control of the site to the council in June 2021. The conclusion of the building works in June 2021 carried more significance as it marked 100 years since the first council houses in Stanmore, a stone’s throw away.
The Valley development has been designed to be as and energy efficient as possible with high levels of insulation, roof mounted solar panels on all the blocks, and electric vehicle charging points available throughout the site.
Cllr Kelsie Learner, Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management, said:
“The Valley development now provides 77 much-needed homes for local families and individuals. The council has continued its commitment to low carbon, high-quality modern housing and we hope these homes will become as important to the Winchester district as the first council-owned homes built here a century ago.”
The landscape scheme retains much of the grassed area as well as improved pedestrian footpaths, known locally as ‘chicken path’, pass through the trees on the ridgeline. The improvement allows for people with restricted mobility to cross the slopes of the Valley. The areas around the blocks are landscaped and a community orchard has been planted to help sustain the biodiversity within the city centre.
The scheme was designed by Snug Architects and Ubu Landscape Architects. Winchester City Council achieved more than £6 million in grant funding from Homes England to enable the council to offer 54 rented homes at social rents.
Watch our ‘100 Years of Council Homes: The Valley’ launch film here.
Please note, the video was filmed prior to the updated COVID-19 guidance being issued on 8 December 2021