LIVE - The magazine for Optivo residents Summer 2017 | Page 15

New homes
for Coventry
We’re set to create 52 homes for affordable rent
in Coventry after investing over £7 million in the regeneration of
a four acre site that has stood empty since an arson attack in 2015.
The development, on Deedmore Road, includes
two, three and four bedroom properties
with gardens as well as parking spaces. Rent
will range from just £95.51 to £119.68.
Gino Siani, Westleigh’s Head of New
Business for the West Midlands, said:
“We are delighted to be working with our
partners at Optivo on this exciting project. The
Deedmore Road development provides us with
an opportunity to redevelop a brownfield site,
whilst also enabling us to create much-needed
affordable housing within the city of Coventry.
It follows hot on the heels of Longfellow Road, in
Kings Norton, Birmingham, a site with 44 affordable
homes that was completed in early 2016.
Mark Miles-Lea, Executive Director of
Development and Sales, said: “We’re committed
to doing our bit to address housing need in the West
Midlands and we are really excited by the prospect
of developing on the site at Deedmore Road.
We are committed to playing our part in
addressing the affordable housing shortfall
across the West Midlands. The 52 homes this
development will create are part of our wider
strategy to provide affordable homes for those
in need, in Coventry and further afield.”
It’s a great location with good travel links to Coventry
City Centre. There are local schools as well as shops
and green space nearby. There’s also an industrial
estate, which offers potential job opportunities.”
This will bring our property numbers in the
West Midlands up to a total of 1733 – and
that number will only continue to grow as we
continue to look for fresh opportunities.
Developer Westleigh is expected to start
on site this summer and work is scheduled
to be complete in summer 2018.
Shower Power!
We were delighted to be able to
help resident, Ken Dickin, when
we heard his daily shower had
become a living nightmare.
The 71-year-old has two
replacement knees and
getting into a regular shower
bath was a struggle. After
suffering numerous falls, Ken
even began to avoid his own
bathroom, resorting to a 40-
mile ‘round trip once a week
to use a more accessible
shower at his son’s house.
But he’s now enjoying a new
lease of life after we installed
a brand new level-access
shower, which means no more
climbing in and out of the bath.
Ken, from Prossers Walk,
Birmingham, said: “I’m not
15
very good on my legs so getting
into the bath to use the shower
was a nightmare. I tried just
having a bath instead, but I
got stuck and it took me half
an hour to get out again!
“Having a new level access shower
is like winning the lottery. I feel
so much better in myself.”