Cabinet minister takes tea with residents at ground breaking east London housing scheme.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government took time out of a busy schedule to meet with Swan Housing Group residents this week.
Ms Blears was welcomed by the Chair of Swan Housing Group, Richard Frost was given a guided tour of Atelier Court a Swan housing development in Tower Hamlets, London.
Ms Blears also met with shared ownership resident, Natasha Nixon, and local artists who use studio space provided as part of the scheme.
The £9.5 million, development provides 66 flats comprised of one, two, three and four bedroom units. The development is built on remediated brownfield land.
Working in partnership with Acme, a charity which supports artists by providing and managing affordable studio work space, the development now provides low cost space for 21 artists and employs an artist in residence.
After guiding the Secretary of State around, Mr Frost said: ‘I was delighted to host Secretary of State Hazel Blears on her visit. It was particularly good to highlight this scheme as an example of a high quality development that utilises modern methods of construction whilst providing a viable mixed use of affordable housing and employment.’
The construction of Atelier Court utilised significant off site volumetric techniques enabling a significant reduction in its construction build time.
Photovoltaic panels are installed on the roof of the development to provide up to 10 per cent of the building’s energy requirements and contributing to the recognition of Atelier as an Eco Homes ‘Very Good’ scheme.