On Thursday 19 March 2015, over 45 guests joined staff from mhs homes to celebrate the launch of Theatre Quarter, built on the site of the historic Theatre Royal auditorium.

The development contains 26 modern apartments for Affordable Rent, Market Rent and Shared Ownership, including two Affordable Rent apartments for wheelchair users. They were built by local contractors Jenner Group thanks to a £650,000 grant from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Guests at the event included Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, alongside representatives from Jenner Group, employer’s agent Pellings and Medway Council. 

The scheme was officially launched by MP for Chatham and Aylesford, Tracey Crouch, who said:

“I am delighted to open these new homes at Theatre Quarter and to see that the former Theatre Royal auditorium site has been transformed into affordable homes. This new development is just a small part of the regeneration taking place across Chatham and I would like to thank everyone that helped to make this scheme a success. “

Ashley Hook, Chief Executive of mhs homes, said:

“We are proud to be contributing to the positive regeneration of Chatham with our Theatre Quarter development and to create more much-needed affordable housing. These contemporary apartments provide homes for affordable rent, market rent and shared ownership. The shared ownership homes enable first time buyers to buy a 35% share from £45,000.”

Arches Local is an exciting opportunity for residents to use at least £1m of Lottery funded money to make a massive and lasting positive difference in the Central and Luton area of Chatham. The community group is one of the many areas supported by Big Local and is aiming to make the area a better place to work, live and enjoy together.

The next Arches Local Open Meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday 8th April 2015 and will start at 7pm with a venue of All Saints Church, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, ME4 5NE. The meeting will mainly cover the final stages of ratifying the plan and any queries or suggestions will be voiced. If you are interested, then please do not hesitate to come along! If you have any further questions about the event, please contact Arches Local via; email ([email protected]) or by Twitter (@ArchesLocal). 

Upbury Way, designed on behalf of mhs homes, successfully secured planning approval last year. The proposed residential scheme situated in Chatham, Kent will see the redevelopment of an infill site into a small flat block of five units and a mews row of three houses, assisting in regenerating the local area.

Construction work has already began on the site with the demolition of the abandoned garages now underway. The development has been configured to maximise daylight exposure to all units and includes landscaped courtyard parking for 11 vehicles as well as extensive cycle parking. This scheme is one of three sites being regenerated by mhs homes along the Brook area of Chatham, with significant progress in Eldon Street taking place.

The new homes are being built in partnership with Chartway Group, thanks to over £300,000 of grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency. The new homes, designed by bptw partnership, are expected to be completed at the beginning of 2016.
 
This scheme is one of three sites which Heart of Medway is redeveloping as part of their ambitious plans to regenerate the Brook area of Chatham. Heart of Medway have already started building a mixture of houses and apartments at a garage site in Upbury Way, and a planning application for 50 new homes in Cross Street has recently been submitted to Medway Council. 

Ashley Hook, Chief Executive of mhs homes said: “This scheme forms part of mhs homes’ plans to invest over £10 million to deliver over 75 new homes in the Brook area of Chatham over the next three years.  This is a fantastic opportunity to redevelop the area to provide high quality homes for local people.”