SEPTEMBER 2012
SPECIAL EDITION
• Development partner appointed • New development named • Demolition day at Kemble, 21 September - Who will push the button to start it? - Join in the action!
Welcome to this special edition of ‘Your Sherwood’, issued to mark a big step forward in our £34million regeneration of the area – the appointment of the development partner we will work with on the project. Our partner will not only construct the homes but will play a key role in ensuring local people benefit from the employment and training opportunities offered by the project.
Introducing our new development partner... It’s a big welcome to Hill Partnerships – our new development partner – who has been awarded the contract to work on this exciting project! The Hill Group has been building homes for housing associations since 1999, working across the south-east. They work with housing associations and local people to create communities where people want to come and live.
What the Hill Group says ‘The Sherwood regeneration is a longterm development which we are very excited about starting. Our team will be working on the project in your community for a number of years, which means that you will see a lot of us about. At this early Chris Homewood stage the most important team members are our Project Manager, Chris Homewood and our Resident and Community Liaison Manager, Lynne Bell who, with her team, will be happy to respond to any queries or questions you may have. You can contact Lynne and her team on 0800 032 6760, or email residents@hillpartnerships.co.uk. We will be introducing new team members to you soon, including site managers and a locally recruited resident liaison officer. At full strength we will have a delivery team, technical managers, commercial managers and more than 100 people from Lynne Bell our subcontractors working on site. There are employment and training opportunities for local residents, and we will be working with the local schools talking about sustainable construction, careers and, most importantly, health and safety on building sites.’
Town & Country’s Development Director, Colin Lissenden is looking forward to working with Hill, saying: ‘We needed a development partner who could match the high expectations that both the residents and ourselves have, that is why I am delighted that we are able to work with Hill Partnerships on the project. They have a proven track record of creating vibrant communities where people want to come and live. Now they are in place we can begin the really exciting work of constructing the new homes and getting local people involved.’
Residents name the new development................ Right from its start, Sherwood residents have been involved in the Sherwood regeneration project and in July we asked you to decide what the development should be called. There were four options and the most popular choice was... We also offered everyone who took part the chance to win £25 in gift vouchers. The lucky winning name drawn from the hat was Mollie Edwards of Liptraps Lane.
Getting residents involved – creating opportunities for local people Sherwood is an exciting long-term project where we will create employment and training opportunities for many local residents. The job opportunities and construction apprenticeships for local residents will range from plumbing to painting and electrical installation to bricklaying. Hill Partnerships will be working on the Sherwood regeneration programme with REDS10 to create these opportunities. Once they are on site and ready to recruit apprentices in a wide range of trades, the opportunities available will be advertised. If you are interested you should contact jobs@reds10.com. REDS10 is a company that offers a unique, joined-up approach to delivering apprenticeships and local labour opportunities across the construction industry, and specifically here in Tunbridge Wells. REDS10 will be at our special launch event on Friday 21 September to talk to anyone who wants to find out more about the employment and apprenticeship opportunities available (see page 4).
TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT WWW.SHERWOODPLAN.COM
SPECIAL EDITION SEPTEMBER 2012
An outline of all the phases of the redevelopment in Sherwood
The programme of works The Sherwood vision began back in 2009. It has involved a great deal of consultation with you, to make sure the development is exactly what you want. Following the detailed consultation with local people, planning permission was given for the redevelopment of Greggs Wood Road. We now have ‘outline’ permission for the whole development which means we know how many homes can be built and the overall layout. We also have ‘detailed’ planning permission for Phase One, Kemble Close. This means we can start to build this phase. Now things are finally about to happen! Perhaps most excitingly the first activities you will see will be the demolition, further details of this can be found later in this edition of Your Sherwood. The programme planned for the first six months of Phase One will include lots of preparation work, although local residents will not see much in the way of recognisable new homes: Between now and March 2013 on Phase One: • T he site will be prepared with fencing and hoarding in September and the site office will start to be installed
By improving the dam and repairing the leaks, the area will be more accessible for those of you who want to go for walks, use the lake and enjoy the natural environment. We know you are passionate about where you live and see the Lake as a major asset within the neighbourhood, so we thank you for your support with this work.
Consultation plans for the Woods The Kent High Weald Partnership (KHWP) will be taking on the management of Sherwood Lake and the woodland around it from 15 October 2012. They will also be running a community consultation ahead of writing a new management plan for the lake and woods, and are looking for people to take part. • S herwood Lake, the Dam, and the Woods – planning for the future 8pm to 9pm on Thursday 4 October, TN2 Community Centre Sports Hall An introduction to the consultation that the KHWP will be running over the coming months, which will shape the future management of Sherwood Lake and Coneyburrow Woods, plus an update on the dam repairs, and an open question and answer session.
• S oft stripping (removal of interior aspects) begins on 3 September at Kemble • D emolition will commence Friday 21 September and take 12 weeks • A fter Christmas work will begin on roads, drainage and foundations
Works to the Dam and Lake There is also significant work planned for Sherwood Lake. The proposals being developed aim to create an exciting and ecologically friendly area around the existing lake and ancient woodland. The entire improvement and repair work planned includes works to repair and improve the dam at Sherwood Lake and create a new
SPECIAL EDITION SEPTEMBER 2012
footpath. Some trees will be felled as part of this work. We plan that most of them will be reused within the woods or as part of the regeneration work as carved signage or play items and part of the overall art strategy for the area.
• M anaging Sherwood Lake – Fishing, Biodiversity and Access 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Saturday 13 October, TN2 Centre Your chance to shape how fishing, biodiversity and access are all supported at Sherwood Lake in the future. We will be joined for this session by an independent guest speaker from the Environment Agency.
TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT WWW.SHERWOODPLAN.COM
• Managing the woodlands and paths around the Lake 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Saturday 20 October, TN2 Centre Your chance to help decide how the woodlands and paths around Sherwood Lake should best be managed for wildlife and access. We will be joined for this session by an independent guest speaker from the Kent Wildlife Trust. • T he history of Sherwood Lake, and taking care of it for the future 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Saturday 10 November, TN2 Centre Find out about the fascinating history of Sherwood Lake, before having the chance to catch up on the findings of the consultation so far, and deciding on the aims of the new management plan.
Find out more... www.khwp.org.uk
info@khwp.org.uk
Consultation for Phases Two and Three We now need to prepare applications for detailed planning permission for Phases Two and Three of the development of Greggs Wood Road. Last year you decided how the overall scheme whould look. Now we would like you to consider the next phases, and in particular the new Neighbourhood Park and the Community Square in front of TN2, as well as the homes for older people and the new streets. We will be in touch with you about this in due course.
Keep in touch... The Sherwood Plan website - www. sherwoodplan.com - will carry up to date information about proposals as they develop. We will also be holding special events for young people and older residents, with further exhibitions as the plans take shape.
DEMOLITION DAY! Be there – for a day to remember The big event that many of you have been waiting for is the start of the ‘real’ work. That will all begin with the demolition of the first block at Kemble Close at mid-day on Friday 21 September and we want you to be there! Meet us at 12 noon on 21 September at TN2 for refreshments before we take the short walk to Kemble Close to see the demolition of the first block of flats! We will then return to TN2 for a free hog roast and a community fayre where there will be an opportunity to meet our partners who we are working with on the redevelopment. This will include REDS10, who will be on hand to speak to anyone who wants to find out more about the employment and apprenticeship opportunities available.
Friday 21 September
YOU ARE INVITED! TO ALL SHERWOOD RESIDENTS... Please join us to witness our £34million project to redevelop Sherwood Friday 21 September 12 noon at TN2 for refreshments
Nominate a Sherwood resident to help knock down the first block!
Walk to Kemble Close to see the demolition of the first block of flats
Not only do we want you to be at the launch we want you to tell us which Sherwood resident you think should push the button to help knock down the first block! All you need to do is complete and return the enclosed nomination form to us by Friday 14 September.
Return to TN2 for free hog roast and community fayre
TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT WWW.SHERWOODPLAN.COM
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! SPECIAL EDITION SEPTEMBER 2012