Priorslee’s first affordable homes receive an award

The first affordable homes to be built in Priorslee, Telford, have received a gold standard police award thanks to their anti-crime designs.

The Wrekin Housing Trust has created 20 homes for affordable rent at Kennington Close, off Gatcombe Way, which includes 16 three-beds houses and four one-bed flats.

The properties have recently been finished and have been awarded a Gold standard from Secured By Design. Secured By Design is an industry standard and the principles have been proven to achieve a reduction of crime risk by up to 75 per cent.

Work started on the site in March last year and was finished this week, with the first tenants moving in straight away.

Steve Swann, development manager at The Wrekin Housing Trust, said: “This is a great accomplishment for the team, and is due to liaising with the relevant police officials to design out opportunities for criminals.

“We took into account a number of recommended features, including the layout of footpaths and roads, planting and street lighting as well as locking systems at the properties and window requirements.”

Each of the 16 homes has a driveway and private garden and the rental for each home is £600 a month, while the flats have designated parking spaces and are being rented for £400 a month. Close to the development is Redhill Primary School, Priorslee Medical Practice and shops.

Steve added: “These are the first affordable rent homes to be built in Priorslee, as the land is expensive in this popular part of Telford. The cost of the land was £540,000 and with building costs the total was just over £3m, however we had a £800,000 grant from Homes England for this scheme. It is great to know that people are already moving into the properties and enjoying feeling secure in their new homes.”