The Leader of Waltham Forest Council, Grace Williams and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Housing Development, Cllr Simon Miller, attended a ground breaking ceremony on Friday 4th March for the new Families and Homes Hub located on Wood Street, Walthamstow. Cllr Williams and Cllr Miller were joined by senior members from The Hill Group, to celebrate the commencement of works to this essential new facility which will provide a range of important customer facing Council services.
The delivery of the 750 sqm Families and Homes Hub will be enabled by a residential development of 67 new homes for local people, including 50% affordable housing (18 homes for social rent and 14 for shared ownership), which will be managed by the Council. The high-quality design of the building will create a landmark on the junction of Wood Street and Forest Road, provide 50 sqm of commercial floor space for a potential small shop or café together with a resident’s garden, four accessible parking spaces, and cycle parking.
In addition to a high-quality development, the project will also deliver significant social value to the borough and its residents, including nine apprenticeships and three work placements during the construction phase. The Hill Group has also committed to delivering a range of initiatives to support local employment and training opportunities.
Eight children and their teacher from Woodside Primary Academy School in Waltham Forest, attended the ground breaking ceremony, where The Hill Group gifted a time capsule to the children to take back to school. The children will gather engaging stories, items and artefacts from the present day to be placed in the capsule, which will be buried at a later date at the Families and Home Hub for future generations to discover.
“Waltham Forest is a diverse and vibrant place, and our people make it what it is. The Families and Homes Hub is part of our commitment to working with residents to ensure that all our communities continue to thrive,” said Leader of the Council, Grace Williams.
“This site will help people in a single modern, integrated, and convenient setting. It will provide Waltham Forest residents with access to the Council’s social care and housing teams in a safe, welcoming, and friendly environment.”
“We are glad to signify the start of works and our continued partnership with The Hill Group. Not only will the development provide much needed Council services for residents, but it will also provide much needed affordable housing for local people and deliver significant social value by providing apprenticeships and work placements to local people as well,” Cllr Simon Miller added.
Appointed as the delivery partner for the Families and Homes Hub, Hill commenced work on-site on 28 February 2022.
