Includes new low carbon energy system and speedier delivery of homes.
Find out more about the information shared at the community drop-in event
Residents and the local community are being invited to a drop in event to find out about some new proposals for the regeneration of Sawyers Close.
As part of the proposals, housing provider Abri is submitting a section 73 planning application to the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (RBWM) to introduce a new low carbon energy system.
The new system will mean each flat has its own individual heating system. This will replace the original plan to add air source heat pumps to the roof of the buildings containing flats, with communal energy systems at ground floor. There is no change planned for the new houses and they will still have individual air source heat pumps.
Alongside this, Abri is proposing to speed up the redevelopment by building in three phases, rather than the original four phases planned. By reducing these building phases, existing residents could move into their new homes at least 18 months sooner than originally envisaged.
If RBWM accepts the change to the energy system, Abri hopes its construction partner The Hill Group can start building on site this August. Without the requirement for a communal energy system on the roof, Abri is able to lower the height of the first block of flats being built which means Building Safety Regulator approval is no longer needed for this phase.
By combining the building phases into three, Abri expects182 new homes could be ready in the next three years.
In preparation for the start of any building works, there will be an increase in activity at Sawyers Close, including demolition of garages, installing temporary car parking and putting a temporary access road in place.
Paul Quinn, Regeneration Project Director at Abri said: “Abri’s regeneration of Sawyers Close will provide 413 much needed high quality, sustainable and affordable homes for existing residents and the local community in Windsor.
“We are committed to providing customers with the most effective low carbon energy system possible and to delivering the new homes as quickly as we can, and we believe the changes we are proposing will help achieve this.”
Gary McDonald, Contracts Manager at The Hill Group commented:
“We strongly believe that constructing this project with a new low-carbon, individual energy system for each flat, will speed up delivery and allow residents to enjoy their new homes at least 18 months earlier than anticipated. Hill is now looking forward to continuing our partnership with Abri and the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead to combine energy efficiency and delivering essential homes safely and quickly.”
Residents and the local community have received invites to the drop in-event taking place on Saturday 22 March, 11am-4pm at Sawyers Close Community Room. There will be detailed information and display boards about the proposed changes, and the project team will be on hand to answer any questions. There will also be feedback forms for people to leave any comments and all the information and the forms will also be made available online at www.sawyersclose.com