We've started demolition work in a street of 60-year-old properties in a Cotswold village, which will pave the way for modern affordable homes.
Work last month on one of our biggest regeneration projects to date in South Cerney, where we will be replacing 56 dated properties and 21 garages, with 82 modern, energy efficient homes. The 5.3-acre site in Berkeley Close is being regenerated in two phases and demolition has got underway of the 38 properties in the first phase of the project.
The properties being demolished were all built using non-traditional methods in the 1960s as a quick solution to the housing shortage. But over time their condition has deteriorated, leading to us deciding to regenerate the street and replace them with modern homes. We will be building a mix of one-and two-bedroom bungalows and flats and one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom houses. Sixty-three homes will be available for rent with the remaining 19 available to part-buy, part-rent through our shared ownership scheme.
Project manager Millie Nicholls said: “We’re pleased that demolition work has begun allowing the regeneration of this site which will transform this part of South Cerney by providing new, affordable homes.
“The former properties were no longer of the quality that either us or our customers expect us to provide. It’s nearly four years since we started talking to our customers living in the existing properties about our plans to regenerate the street, but it’s great to see work underway now.
“Not only are we replacing these old properties, with modern, energy efficient homes, by utilising the garage site, as well, we are increasing the number of rental homes in the village, as well as providing homes for people to purchase through our shared ownership scheme. This means that local people priced out of the private housing market will be able to continue living in the village.
“We will be working closely with our construction partners EG Carter to ensure that disruption to local residents during the construction of our new homes will be as minimal as possible. We expect the new homes in the first phase of this project to be finished in September 2026 and aim to have the whole development completed by autumn 2027.”
The new homes being built in South Cerney will be some of the most energy efficient we've built in the Cotswolds. All the homes will be fitted with solar panels, air source heat pumps and charging points for electric cars.
Cllr Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning on Cotswold District Council, said: “I am delighted to have been a part of this project. This development aligns with Cotswold District Council’s ethos to be Green to the Core and Bromford has taken this on board; the new dwellings will be comfortable warm energy efficient homes for residents to move into."
Mat Vye, Housing Director at E G Carter added: “E G Carter & Co Ltd are delighted to be working in Partnership with Bromford on the regeneration of Berkeley Close in South Cerney. This project marks a significant investment in the community, replacing outdated properties with 82 modern, energy-efficient homes. As a long-standing partner of Bromford, we look forward to drawing on our expertise and strong working relationship to deliver high-quality homes that will benefit local residents for generations to come. The collaboration behind the scenes to reach this stage has been a testament to the shared commitment of Bromford, E G Carter, and the wider project team.”