Keble Grove, Leigh
Potential Future Redevelopment – Land at Keble Grove, Leigh
Housing Context
Across the country and here in Wigan borough there is unprecedented and growing demand for affordable housing. Wigan Council’s Housing Register has more than doubled over the last few years to about 15,000 applicants.
Through our new build housing programme, we are working proactively to deliver sustainable, affordable homes, in line with current and future housing legislation, and the need to play our part in tackling climate change.
Keble Grove
The council actively manages its land and property to ensure that it is used to best effect to meet local priorities; including delivering much-needed good quality, affordable homes and the land at Keble Grove, Leigh has been identified as a potential site for a small development of new homes.
Proposals
We are looking to develop 24 x 1 bed apartments on the site for affordable rent. The properties would be mainly let to single people in need of council accommodation, although couples may also be considered for some of the units. The proposed scheme has been designed to meet local housing needs and all the homes would be owned and managed by Wigan Council.
Phases
Keble Grove Feedback Phase
Consultation Outcome
Following the community consultation held between 18th July and 4th August, we can advise you that the pre planning submission consultation to develop land at Keble Grove, Leigh has been completed and we are now in a position to submit the planning application. Further planning information will be added via phase 3 on this platform once available.
Feedback
We received two responses, one positive and supportive, the second raising issues of potential for the development to negatively impact on the level of antisocial behaviour, the house type (1 bed accommodation) and the housing lettings approach.
Response
We have considered these issues carefully with colleagues in Housing Management and our design team and have made the following amendments:
- the homes will be let sensitively and to households on the housing register
- a proportion of the ground floor apartments, will have wet rooms which means that elderly people or those with mobility issues can move into them easily
- there will be communal garden areas (rather than individual gardens for ground floor apartments only)
We feel these changes will appeal to a wider range of households, including households downsizing and also those with minor mobility issues. Furthermore, the communal gardens will also allow privacy with no hidden spaces and will be a space for all households to access garden space and help build a sense of community.
We would also like to highlight, that the plans include:
- good quality footpaths through the scheme
- boundary treatments and fencing
- landscaped areas
These will be well managed and maintained and help ensure that the scheme remains safe and secure. Please see attached site plan showing this below.
For any other comments or questions please contact the New Homes and Regeneration team via e-mail at NewDevelopment@wigan.gov.uk