Construction of a new affordable housing development at Glebelands in Cam has reached a major milestone, with the first roofs now installed on the 23-home scheme.
The development is being delivered by Stroud District Council as part of its long-running programme to increase the supply of high-quality affordable homes for local people across the district. It is being built on the site of a former independent living facility and will provide a mixture of affordable-rent and shared-ownership properties.
What is being built at Glebelands
The scheme will include eight one-bedroom flats, 10 two-bedroom houses and five three-bedroom houses. Four of the flats have been designed specifically for older residents.
The homes are being designed with accessibility and flexibility in mind. This is intended to make them easier to use and adapt as residents’ needs change over time.
The first roofs were installed on the apartment buildings during the summer. Work is continuing, and a third roof was being completed as the development became increasingly visible on site.
Caroline Dumas, Stroud District Council’s strategic director of resources, said: “It’s great to see Glebelands reaching this important stage, with the first roofs now in place and the development really starting to take shape.”
She said the district faced a significant shortage of affordable housing, with thousands of people on the council’s housing register. The 23 homes, she added, would provide high-quality, energy-efficient accommodation and help more residents access a secure and affordable home.
Energy-saving features planned for the homes
Once complete, the properties will include measures intended to reduce household energy use and running costs. These include air source heat pumps, solar photovoltaic panels and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery systems in some of the units.
The council said the development also supports its wider sustainability ambitions. Energy-efficient features and high levels of insulation are expected to help make the homes more affordable to run while contributing to efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Contractor Speller Metcalfe is delivering the project on behalf of the council. Mark Eaton, the company’s divisional director, said: “We’re pleased to see Glebelands reach this important milestone, with the first roofs now installed and the development taking shape.”
He said Speller Metcalfe was proud to be working with the council to provide energy-efficient homes for local people.
Other affordable housing schemes in the district
Glebelands is part of a wider programme involving affordable housing sites across the Stroud district. Construction is also progressing at Queens Drive in Cashes Green, where seven affordable homes are nearing completion.
The council has recently completed two further schemes on former council-owned sites. Eight affordable-rent homes have been completed at Gloucester Street and Bradley Street in Wotton-under-Edge, while 13 social-rent homes have been completed at Cambridge Avenue in Dursley.
Together, the projects are intended to increase the supply of affordable homes for local people, make use of previously developed brownfield land and support the creation of sustainable communities across the district.
Work at Glebelands is expected to be completed next summer. The source material does not specify an exact completion date or when the homes will become available to residents.