26/01/2012 - New affordable homes inspire creative talents with safety message

School children near to a building site in Bedworth where Waterloo Housing Group is building 44 affordable homes in partnership with Thomas Vale, have taken part in a competition to produce and develop conceptual campaigns to educate other young people on the dangers of playing on construction sites.

St Giles Junior is the neighbouring school and are involved as part of an on-going SOS Safe or Sorry initiative. The thought-provoking campaigns and posters are displayed internally as a consistent reminder and educational tool.

He said: “The children have really shown an interest in the work going on in their neighbourhood to build these much-needed new affordable homes. They have drawn on their creative talents to hammer home the safety message with some great entries.”

Waterloo Housing Groups £4.8 million development, being delivered in partnership with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and the Homes and Communities Agency, will provide much-needed sustainable family housing in the area; with the development comprising of 27 homes for rent, alongside 17 shared ownership units to help local people get a foot on the housing ladder by part-buying and part-renting.

Tom Hughes, Chairman of Waterloo's Local Board for the West Midlands, said: “We are very pleased to be working with the Council to build this new housing development. From the interest and welcome already shown by the local school children, I am sure new residents moving in later this year will be sure to feel at home very quickly."

Glen Schofield, Divisional Director for Housing New Build at Thomas Vale Construction, added: “We are delighted to be working closely with the community and engaging with the local school. It is a great pleasure to give the pupils a chance to get creative and most importantly learn about construction.”

The new homes are funded through a multi-million investment from the Homes and Communities Agency and are due for completion in September 2012.