Hello!
Welcome to our May blog update about our work in Somerton
Our last Resident Steering Group meeting was on 4 May at Nexus House, with a combination of people attending in person and online. 5 residents attended, Terry and Andrew from Oxford Architects popped in too, to talk through the design activity we’re working on.
You can read the minutes of the meeting in full here.
Project Plan
We are on track and have achieved our key milestones for April. Intrusive surveys are being carried out, a post was put out on social media to advise there maybe some increased activity around some of the void properties. Throughout May the design team will explore further options for Somerton.
Valuer
Friday 29th April we held a tender scoring meeting with NCH representatives and residents to meet, listen to and interview 2 prospective valuers. Jones-Battye Chartered Surveyors were successful. Jones Battye will be in contact with homeowners who have expressed an interest in selling their homes in due course.
Refurbishment activity
Curtins have 3 remaining properties left to survey. We will be carrying out refurbishment works to 2 pilot properties to ensure we get the right scheme of works before this is rolled out across the estate.
Design Updates
Oxford Architects put together a slide presentation on the design update. We went through the community consultation feedback we received at the event at the Hope centre on the 30 March. 76 attendees were recorded on the sign in sheet. Questions asked at the event where, “What issues if any do you experience where you live, What do you like about the design proposal, What do you not like about the design proposal, What would you like to change / see in the design proposal, What play / recreational areas would you like to see, What would you like to see in older persons accommodation and What do you like about living in Somerton”
We received lots of great feedback which will go into helping us with the design of Somerton.
At the meeting we asked the steering group “ Where should play / recreations area be located, Where should older persons accommodation be located, Are there any locally important landmarks within Somerton. We received lots of great feedback to these question which will help inform our design of Somerton
We also looked at reviewing concepts and design principles for Laburnum Drive and the surrounding areas. Another area we discussed was Hawthorne Fosse, we have been in contact with the school around access to the school from this site. We are looking to provide better access and visibility to the school with a good mix of homes.
Time and Date of Next Meeting
Wednesday 1 June at 17.30pm