People living in Ollerton say seven new homes are going to make ‘somebody very happy’ in their ‘lovely’ village. Nottingham Community Housing Association has built the new affordable homes built in Ollerton off Newark Road.
The homes back on to the Ollerton pit Wood and are on former wasteland, which residents say had previously been a caravan storage site. The new homes will be let to people with a local connection, through Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Choice Base Letting Scheme.
The homes are two bed and energy efficient. They feature solar panels, thick insulation, argon-filled windows, trickle vents in the windows and automatic extractor fans to help to get rid of steam and moisture to prevent mould. Residents say the new homes are ‘nice to look at’ and that the area is ‘lovely and quiet’. Resident Julie Simpsons, 74, retired, told Nottinghamshire Live the area is one people can enjoy.
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She said: “We like it here - there are lots of walks. Everyone is friendly and we have never had any trouble. People have got to have somewhere to live, you get the good and the bad.
“We need them. It was just wasteland, it wasn't an eyesore, it was green space. There’s shopping, Tesco and Asda, the main street is nice, it’s got quirky shops and there are one or two nice pubs.”
Vivian Broadhead, who is 81, thinks the new owners will be elated. She said: “It’s lovely and quiet. I think they’re very nice to look at. Somebody is going to be very happy with them. We’ve got a mix of people here - everyone gets on. They’re lovely down there - they’ve put all the bird boxes on fences and they’re being used.”
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Another resident, Terry Bell, who is 81 and retired, told Nottinghamshire Live the land had previously gone to waste. Mr Bell said: "It used to be a caravan storage field, then it was just wasteland. No one ever looked after it.
“It’s alright, it’s quite good here. Any housing is good. We need a lot more social housing.”
The new development cost £1.2m and was part-funded by a £210,000 grant from Homes England. The scheme was designed and contract managed by Nottingham Community Housing Association’s Pelham team. Councillor Tim Wendels, Chairman of the Homes and Communities Committee for Newark and Sherwood District Council, commented:
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“We welcome the opportunity to celebrate these new affordable, energy-saving homes meeting local housing needs. The site has some great environmental features that will help residents bring down their household bills, stay warm and reduce their carbon footprint. I’m really impressed by the eco-measures I’ve seen today, and I’m sure tenants will be happy in their new homes.”
Allan Fisher, Director of Development and Assets for NCHA, added: “This opening marks the completion of our long-held vision of designing, developing and building new homes from start to finish. It’s been in the planning for many years, and I’m delighted with the end result.
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