Social housing provider Stonewater recently completed an innovative community-build project to provide high quality homes and valuable training for armed forces veterans.
The scheme involved six veterans working alongside the contractor to build their own homes while learning construction skills to boost their job prospects.
Noden’s Mews is the resulting development in Leominster, Herefordshire. It comprises 19 properties for affordable rent, built on the former site of a 1970s 16-flat Stonewater scheme.
The project has also transformed the lives of the ex-armed forces personnel taking part, who were previously struggling to find suitable housing and civilian employment.
Stonewater was keen to get involved after Herefordshire Council flagged up the need for such opportunities for local veterans in the area. Despite the fact that this type of scheme might not have seemed economically viable on paper, all the partners were committed to its success as they recognised the huge positive impact in terms of its wider social value.
Such was this commitment that the local authority even provided an extra piece of land, next to the Stonewater properties that were demolished to make way for the new homes. Other partners included Alabaré, the self-build agency that managed the veterans, Harper Group Construction, the local contractor that trained and supported them and the charitable foundation, Longleigh, who support individuals and communities served by the social housing sector with grant funding.
Initial discussions began over four years ago, with construction starting in September 2019 and completing in December 2020. There were various challenges, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the partners’ close collaboration and dedication to a shared vision ensured the development remained on track.
Social value
The community-build element of this initiative meant the veterans worked together as a team, making new friends and becoming part of the local community while gaining valuable skills, training and experience to help them find long-term work – all while creating secure, comfortable homes for them to live in.
At least two of the veterans look set to gain further employment in the construction industry. The experience has also benefited all participants’ physical and mental health, boosting their confidence and self-worth, helping them rebuild relationships with their families, opening up fresh opportunities and bringing a sense of optimism for the future.
Dwain is one of the veterans who was involved. As the project came to an end, he explained: “This scheme has changed my life. Only last year I was sleeping rough with no hope and my health suffered. Now I have got my self-esteem back and I have a home I can bring my children to and celebrate Christmas together. I have also gained qualifications and work experience that will help me get a new job, and support me and my family. It’s been fantastic.”
Fellow veteran, Fred, said: “I think the idea of building a community at the same time as you build the project is wonderful. All the people you build with will be your neighbours, so you’ll know everybody around you. Ending up with some friends for life is one of the best things about it.”
Leading the way
Having seen the far-reaching benefits for individuals, their families and the wider community, Stonewater hopes Noden’s Mews will encourage fellow housing associations to get involved with schemes such as this.
Matthew Crucefix, Director of Development (South and West) at Stonewater, said: “Working with veterans on a scheme like this was something new for us, so it has been an exciting journey and very rewarding to see how it has made such a difference to their lives.
“With a large armed forces presence in Herefordshire, there is a constant need for veterans’ accommodation. We’re proud to have led the way, alongside our community partners, demonstrating to other organisations how important schemes like this are for the wider community.
“We hope that its success will inspire others to take on similar projects, with similar challenges, in other parts of the country.”
Stonewater manages around 33,600 homes for over 75,000 customers across England. This includes affordable properties for general rent, shared ownership and sale, as well as specialist accommodation such as retirement and supported living schemes for older and vulnerable people, domestic abuse refuges, a dedicated LGBTQ+ Safe Space, and young people’s foyers.
Its current housebuilding programme aims to deliver at least 1,500 new homes a year from 2022 and it has a solid development pipeline in place to achieve this target.
