Early Christmas Presents for REEMA Families

Six sets of families were able to move into the first row of houses ready in Grange Road, phase one of the major REEMA development in Petersfield this week.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Petersfield joined them in their celebrations by raising a glass to the lucky ones who received their front door keys for their new homes, in time for Christmas.

Anna Burt-DArcy, as one of the residents who has been waiting to move since the beginning of the long process of consultation and developments, was particularly happy: It seems like it has gone on forever since we first heard that this (project) started.  But I had no idea how lovely the house we are moving into was going to be.  They have thought of everythingextra plug sockets, en suite bathrooms, energy efficient heating, and it's well insulated.  As a one-parent family it is going to be very important to me.

Drum has been working in partnership with East Hampshire District Council to resolve the issue of a number of houses built in the Cranford Road and Grange Road area of Petersfield that are very poorly insulated.  These houses, built as a post-war measure to a great lack of housing at the time were only ever meant as a short term measure.  However, several years later, many Petersfield families have lived in these hard to heat homes for many generations.

This is an exciting time for affordable housing in Petersfield.  This is the first stage of the redevelopment of the former REEMA houses in Petersfield and is very good news for Drum tenants, explains Elizabeth Cartwright, Portfolio Holder for Housing, East Hampshire District Council, They will now have attractive new homes, built to high standards of design. They will be much easier and cheaper to heat than the former re-inforced concrete houses.  Once the existing tenants have been rehoused there will be additional homes for those in need of social rented accommodation in the town.

"Im so excited! exclaimed Jean Tribe, another resident moving in, after three years of waiting the day has finally come.  It's brilliant it is going to be so nice to be warm and to have an energy efficient home with lower bills!"

Some of the residents living in REEMA houses have been involved in the Consultation Group, acting as resident representatives on the Steering Group that looked at how Drum communicated and worked with residents.  Sylvia Hawkes who has worked as a representative will be the very first to move in.

It's a relief to be moving in now, before the truly cold weather gets a hold.  I am going to get my curtains up, get the pot plants around me, and it will feel like home.

END

Main image top - Mrs Hawkes, the first resident to move in receives her keys from Frances Torrance, the Housing Consultant. The houses were wrapped with seasonal ribbon so that each resident got to cut the ribbon.