Scope Construction launches Affordable Housing Partnership with project in Atherstone

Work is due to start on a part refurbishment and part new build scheme to deliver 20 affordable homes in Atherstone. The project will be delivered for North Warwickshire Borough Council through a turnkey development agreement between Tamworth based developers, Cornerstone Partnership and Loughborough based contractor, Scope Construction Ltd.

The scheme will see the regeneration of a former TNT office building into 14 affordable flats and 6 new build, two bedroom homes to the rear. As well as providing much needed affordable housing for people living in North Warwickshire, the redevelopment will incorporate a number of energy efficiency measures, at a time when everyone is feeling the pressure of rising energy costs.

The new build homes will focus on the fabric first, with high levels of insulation, heating will be “zero gas” with the installation of air source heat pumps. Each new build will have EV charging, whilst the apartments scheme will see a thermal upgrade to the existing building and communal EV charging stations. Two of the apartments to the rear of the existing building have been designed as accessible dwellings.

The building, on Long Street, has a Grade II Listed frontage and as such all conversion work will be sensitively undertaken. This will include retention of the existing front windows, secondary glazing, cleaning and protection of the stone frontage and sympathetic repairs/replacement of roof tiles, whilst internal features such as hand rails and three leaded glass windows will be retained and integrated into the development.

The project has also been subject to an archaeological watching brief. No significant finds were recorded by the archaeologists. In the meantime, the enabling works package is now underway and Angela Coates, Assistant Director (Housing) and Councillor Denise Clews visited site this week for a tour to mark the start of this important local project.

The main works are due to start later in July, with completion expected in summer 2026, when the new homes will be rented to tenants by North Warwickshire Borough Council.

Councillor Denise Clews, the Chair of the Housing Working Group, said “Councillors very much welcome the conversion of the building into flats to meet the needs of local applicants. Having two flats on the ground floor that are accessible for people with disabilities will help us meet diverse needs. The mews houses will be ideal for families because they are close to facilities and transport. All of the new homes will be offered to households on our waiting list”

Paul Stanford, Development Director at Cornerstone Partnership said “Having delivered other similar turnkey local authority developments in the West Midlands, we are delighted to mark the start of our first partnership project with North Warwickshire Borough Council. We are committed to making sure our schemes have community impact and this scheme will meet an important local need”

Jim Burman, Operations Manager for Scope Construction commented “It is great to be on site in Atherstone today, to mark the start of our partnership with Cornerstone. Scope is committed to helping housing associations and local authorities to deliver affordable and sustainable housing across the Midlands. We look forward to working with Cornerstone to deliver quality, energy efficient and affordable homes for North Warwickshire Borough Council. We hope it will be the first of many projects we deliver together."