30 APRIL 2009
THUMBS UP FROM HOUSING MINISTER

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett was the VIP visitor at a Quantum-backed development in Loughborough recently.

Mrs Beckett unveiled a commemorative plaque at Canalbridge Close in Empress Road and took a guided tour of the £5.6m scheme.

During the tour Mrs Beckett met a resident of the scheme, who lives with her two children, and talked about her home and the area.

The former industrial land in Empress Road was transformed into 65 much-needed homes by Derwent Living, and the scheme includes a mix of two, three and four bedroom houses and one and two-bedroom apartments.

It consists of affordable rental properties, properties available through a 'try before you buy' initiative, market rent properties and properties for sale on a part-buy, part-rent basis.

As well as being affordable, the properties are eco-friendly and include an innovative rainwater harvesting system, a community park and the integration of 'homezone' principles that ensured that the design and layout are pedestrian friendly.

Two properties are specially designed for wheelchair users.

Mrs Beckett said: "I am delighted to be invited to mark the official opening of this new housing scheme.

"Canalbridge Close is a good example of an affordable housing scheme which will help first-time buyers in Loughborough get on the housing ladder. And given housing contributes 25 per cent of CO2 emissions in the UK, it is vital we take steps to reduce the environmental impact of our homes. Schemes like this are leading the way in delivering greener housing."

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