Residents Celebrate First Phase of Redevelopment at REEMA

Around 200 Petersfield residents from Cranford Road, Grange Road and Borough Grove got together for a celebration last Friday.

Drum Housing Association and Croudace Homes in Partnership(CHIP) developers of the REEMA project, staged an event in Borough Grove in and around the builders yard, to mark the conclusion of the first phase of redevelopment on Grange Road.

The regional director for the Housing Corporation, Fiona Cruickshank, gave a short presentation in Meadowlands. There are 7 new family homes situated on a previously unsightly garage area, which was infamous for antisocial behaviour.  ғI am delighted to join you in Petersfield to celebrate the first milestone in the redevelopment of this area.  It gives me great satisfaction that Government grant money is being spent on such a good development, where so much resident consultation has taken place.

Drum and CHIP then put on barbeque food and childrenԒs entertainment as well as inviting the local neighbourhood watch, community police and Cranford Road Residents Association, to set up stalls.

There was also a large ґplanning for real exercise undertaken, where residents were invited to highlight hot spots for concern.  Whilst we wanted to celebrate the completion of the first 34 homes, it also offers us another great opportunity to consult with residents.  Ensuring that their views are at the heart of our relationship with them is a key stone to a happier, more sustainable community, explained Sandra Theckston, Director of Drum.

Drum has been carrying out a prolonged period of consultation with those living in REEMA houses in Borough Grove, Grange Road and Highfield Road for over four years.  There have been meetings with all ages, including pupils from The Petersfield School living in the area, plus a whole range of evening and weekend sessions so that as many people's views as possible could be considered.

A large majority have opted to leave the post-war, hard-to-heat prefabricated REEMA houses, in exchange for brand new homes, built to their own requirements.

Drum Housing Association is a social landlord registered with the Housing Corporation (a Government agency responsible for the regulation of housing associations) and is a not-for-profit social organisation.

Drum is part of the Radian Group, who provides affordable housing across six counties in the South of England.

For further information please contact Maria Garside, Public Relations Manager on 01730 403080 or 07748 113364, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Fiona Cruickshank, South East Director for the Housing Corporation and Margaret Scott, Chair of the Board for Drum Housing Association, stand in the front row with residents of Meadowlands and project partners cheering behind.

Jean Tribe (far right) REEMA resident, shows (l-r) Head of Development for Drum, Claire Virginie, Drums Chair, Margaret Scott and South East Director for the Housing Corporation, Margaret Scott, around her new, made-to-measure home.

REEMA residents take part in planning-for-real, pointing out areas for concern within the locality.