Willmott Dixon will bring down four derelict residential tower buildings to clear for 68 new apartments and 34 houses in the latest part of Queens Drive redevelopment.
Willmott Dixon is already on the site with phase 1A, a £11.5m tender to construct 15 houses and 32 flats, which commenced in June last year.
The £34m Queens Drive redevelopment project is on the A4259, which is one of the busiest roads in Swindon town centre.
Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, Councillor Cathy Martyn uttered that the development brings much required, affordable housing in Swindon through the council’s biggest regeneration scheme to date. “It’s amazing to see the project about to start on the next stage to create modern, efficient and well-developed houses for the future.”
Read also:Willmott Dixon to build school facilities in Wales.
The distinctive heritage.
The Queens Drive redevelopment houses have been modelled to show Swindon’s distinctive heritage and attempts have been made to include the town’s railway history into the designs. The prominent gables of the estates, for example, are based on the widths of the previous engine sheds. They were used to repair, maintain and house the trains, whilst the building mass makes sure dual aspect living to ensure they will be light and airy to live in once built. Along with the housing, they’ve taken steps to ensure that the houses are very climate friendly by using PV cells and triple glazing, and also taking steps to make sure the local wildlife continues to thrive with the use of new bat boxes. The importance of investing in the local communities and building good quality, affordable housing in Swindon is a top priority for the Council.
The Queens Drive redevelopment project is funded from Homes England Grant, the council’s housing revenue account (HRA), and borrowing offset against the rent income collected from the homes. The construction is procured using the Scape framework.
