Riverside - Riverside starts work on new affordable housing development with poignant event

12 March 2010

Riverside Carlisle yesterday held an event to mark the start of work at the former Barras Close site in Morton, Carlisle.

The start of construction by housing developer and regeneration specialist Lovell on the £4.8m scheme marks the culmination of a lot of work with the local community to ensure that the new homes meet the needs of local residents. The development will create 43 new homes for social rent: four four-bedroom, 16 three-bedroom and 18 two-bedroom houses and five two-bedroom bungalows. All homes will have solar water heating and some of the larger properties will have rainwater harvesting systems. Since the site was first identified as requiring development Riverside has undertaken a great deal of consultation with

the local community which even included the local residents group, TRAMP, deciding on the new name for the street. Cllr Peter Farmer is the Chair of TRAMP. He explained, “The Group wanted to give the site a name that really reflected the local community. It was decided unanimously that it should be renamed as Caslin Way, following the tragic death of Lynn Caslin, former manager of Morton Community Centre who did so much for the local area, in 2009” The event saw Riverside’s Board Member, Cllr Joe Hendry, along with Mr Sam Caslin and Lovell Area Manager Phil Houghton dig the first sod.

Mr Caslin said, “Lynn didn’t like a lot of fuss but she would be very proud and pleased to know how much people thought of her. It means a lot to our family that her name will carry on for years to come."

Malcolm Irving, Leasehold and Development Manager at Riverside is delighted that work is finally starting. He has overseen the work to date and said, “Caslin Way represents Riverside Carlisle’s first major new build development. The development is the culmination of Riverside and Lovell working with the community to deliver homes which meet the aspirations of local residents and which positively contribute to the local area. Riverside Carlisle has secured funding from the Homes and Communities Agency for this and a number of other developments which are planned in and around Carlisle soon. We look forward to families moving into these homes in the near future and are sure that they will be very happy with the design and quality of their new homes.”

Phil Houghton, Lovell Area Manager for Cumbria was at the event and has been involved with the development from the outset. He said, “It is great to be starting work in partnership with Riverside and the local community on this development which is going to create much-needed new family homes for Carlisle.”

It is hoped that the development will be completed in February 2011.