The Wrekin Housing Trust celebrate new Arleston eco development

The event will celebrate the redevelopment of the Arleston Lane site in Wellington. The site has been transformed from dangerous and unsightly flats to an innovative and sustainable housing scheme, featuring a living grass roof that changes with the seasons and reduces fuel bills for the residents.

The new Arleston Lane development has been built on Trust land and now provides 20 brand new homes in place of the derelict flats. There is a mixture of apartments, which feature the grass roof, and houses, two of which have been specially adapted for those with particular requirements.

Jean Teichmann, Head of Development at the Trust, said: “The Arleston Lane development is a showcase for the type of developments that The Wrekin Housing Trust can produce and we hope to work with other local companies to develop many more schemes of this type in the future across Shropshire and the Midlands.

“The event next week is as an opportunity to celebrate the amazing transformation of this site, and the impact that it has had on the surrounding area and the lives of those now living there and we hope everyone will enjoy the day.”

David Gough, Regional Director of Lovell in the Midlands, added:“We’ve really enjoyed working with The Wrekin Housing Trust in what has turned out to be a real success story. It’s very rewarding when you can see the pleasure your work brings to individual residents and the benefit it brings to the community as a whole.”

The event will include an official opening of the site by Oliver Heath, an eco design consultant and champion of sustainable homes, who has worked on popular home makeover show Changing Rooms. There will also be the chance to watch a video of how the site has changed over the years and the opportunity for those who have not seen the site before to have a closer look during a tour with Oliver and employees from The Wrekin Housing Trust.

Chris Jones, who lives in an apartment on the site, said: “Getting a new home on this site has really made a huge difference to my life. I think the Trust and everyone they’ve worked with have produced something special which is such an improvement on what was here before.

“I feel there’s a really good community feel here, not only between the residents but also with the Trust and local companies. It’s a great idea to get everyone together to celebrate what’s been achieved and the fact that the development is now finished.”

The Arleston Celebration will bring together invited guests including residents, employees from local councils and the Homes and Communities Agency, as well as those involved in the development such as architects and representatives from the Trust and Lovell.

The Wrekin Housing Trust is planning to develop similar affordable housing sites across Shropshrie and the Midlands and anyone with land or opportunities can contact the Trust. For more information on The Wrekin Housing Trust visit www.wrekinhousingtrust.org.uk