Last week, joint venture partners Havering Council and Wates Residential welcomed residents back to the former Napier and New Plymouth site in Rainham.
It was the first opportunity for those returning to view the brand new Council homes.
The former Napier and New Plymouth site, located in Rainham, and now called New Green, will be the first to be completed as part of the larger ‘12 Estates’ regeneration programme.
It will provide 197 high-quality homes for local people and will be ready this winter.
All residents who were moved from the site to enable the regeneration to take place are guaranteed the right to return to one of the 126 modern affordable homes
Graham, Jean-Claude and Emily were three of the first ex-Napier and New Plymouth residents to view the new properties.
Jean-Claude said: “The new homes are wonderful! The attention to detail is great and I think I will be very happy here.”
Graham added: “It is so much brighter and much bigger than before, I’m really looking forward to returning.’
Another resident, Emily, said ‘It’s so nice here. I’m definitely considering coming back.”
The site also has a further 71 homes at the site are also available to buy under a shared ownership scheme.
The scheme will be launched as ‘New Green’ and will prioritise Havering key workers and local people to part buy/part rent these homes and get onto the housing ladder.
By the time the New Green development is completed, the developer, Wates also expects to have awarded over £18 million in contracts with local businesses.
Since work began on the site, Wates / the joint venture has also invested more than £15 million in social value in the Havering community, including over £100,000 with local charities and community causes.
So far 164 local people have benefited from employment and skills initiatives, while over 1,500 students have been supported via educational activities and programmes.
Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council, said:
"The upcoming completion of this high-quality build will provide much needed homes for our residents who have been patiently waiting to return to the site, as well as help to reduce some of the demand on our Housing Register.
“I am really looking forward to welcoming Graham, Jean-Claude, Emily and all their new neighbours to their new homes later this year.”
Hugh Jeffery, Regional Development Director at Wates Residential, said:
“At the heart of this regeneration is the creation of homes that put local people first, so it was brilliant to take residents round the New Green development and showcase the incredible progress that has been made on site.
“The launch of New Green marks the next phase in our joint venture partnership with the Council as we deliver an exciting new chapter in the borough’s history for the benefit of all who live and work here.”