We have been made aware and have responded to a post on social media relating to possible demolition work in the local area of St. Julians which contained some misleading information.
We would like to reassure residents that no decisions have been made, and we have written directly to all NCH residents and leaseholders who may be affected by future work in the area.
What’s happening?
We’re currently looking at what work, if any, is required to improve some of our homes in the St. Julians area.
This applies to certain properties only, and a full list of addresses affected is listed below.
We’re still at the early stages of looking at these homes, and our focus is on collecting information to help us understand what work may be required in the future.
This includes carrying out surveys in and around properties and talking to residents and leaseholders about what they think of their homes and neighbourhoods.
We have written to all affected residents and leaseholders directly. So far, we have:
- Issued three letters to residents about survey work taking place
- Issued two newsletters about what our work may mean for residents (February and April 2021)
- Held an online session for affected residents in February to talk about why we need to look at these properties and what the options might look like, gathering feedback on how residents and leaseholders feel about their homes and outside area
Where can I find previous updates?
Links to the newsletters and session recordings can be found here:
Newsletter 1 (Feb 21): https://bit.ly/3o3WKV5
Online session (Feb 21): https://youtu.be/frMiVKdM4tA
Newsletter 2 (April 21): https://bit.ly/3bibk67
Why has demolition been mentioned?
We’re looking at these specific properties because we think that they may need some work carried out in the future.
There are a variety of possible options which we may need to look at. These options are:
- The first option is to not take any action. Based on the information we receive through our surveys and resident feedback; we may only need to update homes through our ongoing maintenance and repairs programme
- Another option could be that we decide to carry out refurbishment works on some of our current properties. This could be straightforward repairs as needed, or could be more extensive, for example involve adding more space to the buildings or looking to see if any improvement is needed to the layouts
- Depending on the information we receive, another option could be building new homes – in which case, we may have to look at what we do with the current homes. This could possibly involve some demolition. If this is the case, we have confirmed that residents will have first priority for the new homes, and we will not be seeking to move residents away from their area unless they want to.
We have shared these options with residents because we want to be open and transparent about all the options we’re looking at.
What does the timeline look like for our work?
- September – May 2021: Carry out surveys
We’re carrying out a selection of surveys in and around the homes that we’re looking at, to make sure we have up to date information. - February – April 2021: Talking to affected residents and leaseholders
We’ve been keeping in touch with affected residents and leaseholders through our newsletters and online sessions to understand how they feel about their homes and outside space. - April – June 2021: Creating options
We’re using the information gathered from surveys and residents to create options for each block based on their future investment needs – this includes the survey results, what work may be required and the impact this could have on residents and leaseholders. - June 2021: Consultation with affected residents and leaseholders
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sending out an information pack to affected residents with details of each option and what this could mean. We’ll also be holding further online sessions to consult with residents and leaseholders about any possible activity. - July/August 2021: Decision on work required
Our Board will review the work carried out, including feedback from residents and consider which option should be taken forward and the possible timescales for carrying out the work.
When will residents be told what option will be happening?
We will update affected residents as soon as possible, and we expect to share information with residents and leaseholders during August and September.
We understand that this wait is an uncertain time for affected residents, and we really appreciate your patience whilst we look at the possible options and carry out surveys to help us fully understand what work may be required before making a decision.
Why are you involving residents and leaseholders in this before you know what work will be happening?
We appreciate this is a slow process and we understand that this may be worrying to residents and leaseholders who want to know what work will be taking place.
However, it’s important that we take the time to get this right, and make sure we’re making decisions with all of the available information.
It’s also important we talk to residents about what we are doing from the start so that any decisions are informed by the views of our residents.
Why aren’t NCH holding events in the community?
Face-to-face events remain restricted due to COVID-19 regulations.
The safety of our residents and colleagues is our number one priority. We’re continuing to review guidelines and the number of COVID-19 cases in the local community, and we will restart community events when it’s safe to do so.
In the meantime, we understand that online engagement may be difficult for residents without internet access. We’ll be offering one-to-one socially distanced doorstep visits for residents with accessibility needs or who don’t have access to the internet during the consultation process in June.
Visits will be offered on a case-by-case basis by our Community Services team. Information on how to request a visit will be shared in the information packs for residents.
What if residents don’t have the internet to take part in consultation online?
We understand that not everyone has access to the internet. We have included all information in our posted newsletters to residents, including tear-off leaflets for residents to contact us by post if preferred. You can also speak to our Community Services Officer, Wesley Ford, on 01633 227614.
During our consultation process in June, we’ll be offering one-to-one socially distanced doorstep visits for residents with accessibility needs or who don’t have access to the internet.
Visits will be offered on a case-by-case basis by our Community Services team, and information on how to request a visit will be shared in the information packs for residents.
Who can I talk to about this?
We understand that residents may have further questions about our work. There are several ways that you can get in touch with us.
Wes Ford, Community Services Officer
Wesley.Ford@newportcityhomes.com
01633 227614
E-mail our project team at community@newportcityhomes.com
How do I know if my address is affected?
We have been writing to affected residents regularly over the last few months. However, if you would like to check, a full list of addresses that we’re looking at in St Julians is listed below.
If you have any questions about this list, please get in touch with us at community@newportcityhomes.com.
When will the next update be shared?
The next update will be shared with affected residents by post in early June, with online events taking place towards the end of June.
The next update will include detailed information on each option and how this may affect NCH residents and leaseholders.
What addresses are we looking at?
Below is a full list of addresses we’re looking at in St. Julians.
- 1–135 Beaufort Road (odd numbers only)
- 1–12 Romney Close (all properties)
- 1-18 Ward Close (all properties)
- 1–36 Sickert Close (all properties)
- 38–60 Sickert Close (even numbers only)
- 1-83 Munnings Drive (odd numbers only)
- 22-44 Vermeer Crescent (even numbers only)
- 1-12 Lavery Close (all properties)
- 1-12 Raynolds Close (all properties)
- 1-12 Whistler Close (all properties)
- 1-12 Van Dyke Close (all properties)
- 66 -88 Gainsborough Drive (even numbers only)
Our statement on social media
For ease of reference, here is our full statement from social media:
We’re currently looking at what work, if any, is required in certain areas of St. Julians.
This applies to certain properties only, and not the wider area as mentioned in your post. As we are at the early stages of looking at these properties and talking to residents about what they think of their homes and neighbourhoods, we have written to affected residents directly.
As part of this early work, we have sent three letters and two postal newsletters to date, and held an online session for affected residents in February to share information about the surveys we have been carrying out, options we’re looking at and to ask residents what they think of their home and local area. Updates have also been issued by e-mail and text message.
Links to the newsletters and session recordings can be found here, and all information is also available on our website:
Newsletter 1 (Feb 21): https://bit.ly/3o3WKV5
Online session (Feb 21): https://youtu.be/frMiVKdM4tA
Newsletter 2 (April 21): https://bit.ly/3bibk67
Thanks for letting us know that you were unable to access our website, we’re looking into this.
In answer to your specific questions:
- NCH is looking at a number of options for these homes and areas. The options include day to day repairs; refurbishment or building new homes and possibly demolishing existing homes.
The options being drawn up are in response to surveys of the properties and their future investment needs. A key part of this process is engaging with affected residents to find out their views about the existing homes and about the options. - As this work is still in early stages, formal consultation has not yet started and no decisions have been made about what work, if any, will be taking place. We’ll be writing to affected residents again soon with more information ahead of the planned sessions in June.
- Should the option chosen be building new homes and possibly demolishing existing properties, we have confirmed with residents that they will have first priority for the new homes and we will not be seeking to move residents away from their area unless they want to.
At the moment, we’re unable to carry out any face-to-face events due to COVID-19. We’re keeping this under constant review and will restart community events as soon as it is safe to do so.
We also understand that not everyone has access to the internet, and have sent all information to residents by post. Wesley Ford, our Community Services Officer, is supporting this work and his contact details have been shared on all correspondence for anyone with questions or concerns. His phone number is 01633 227614.
A dedicated e-mail address for our work has also been set up at community@newportcityhomes.com.
We appreciate that this may be worrying to residents who have not heard anything about this work previously. We would like to reassure residents that anyone affected has been written to directly. If you would like to confirm this, please get in touch with us at community@newportcityhomes.com.