Suzie Mundell shares this latest news from Vectis Housing. Ed
Vectis Housing’s newest residential development, converted from a former chapel and primary school buildings on Newport Street, Ryde was officially opened this week by Councillor Julia Baker-Smith.
This forward-thinking project saved these historic buildings from demolition and converted an existing landmark building into quality affordable housing satisfying a key area of local need.
Subject to a Local Lettings Plan
The scheme comprises eight units: two two-bedroom maisonettes and six one-bedroom flats all already fully occupied with Vectis Housing residents. A ten month construction period used local labour from Island company, Vectis Builders.
The scheme was subject to a Local Lettings Plan requiring incoming residents to have a local connection to Ryde. The two bedroom maisonettes were offered by way of transfer to existing Ryde families and the one bedroom flats were allocated through Island Homefinder in accordance with the Local Lettings Plan.
Below market rents
Martyn Pearl, CEO at Vectis Housing Association says,
“Vectis Housing Association is proud to announce the opening of our latest scheme of affordable homes on the site of the previous Greenmount School in Ryde. We have been delighted to work closely with the developer, Daldorch Estates, Vectis Builders and the Isle of Wight Council to produce eight high quality homes for local households at below market rents.
“These flats are very much part of the Vectis commitment to provide high quality homes with strong communities in good neighbourhoods. As the main provider of social housing on the Isle of Wight, we will continue to work actively with the Council and local Parishes to produce community assets and hope to produce up to 100 new homes over the next five years.”
Amazed and delighted at transformation
The headmaster of Greenmount Primary School, which has now relocated to the site of the former Mayfield Middle School, attended the opening with eight of his year six pupils who all remember starting their academic lives at this school.
Headmaster, Richard May says,
“It was really good to be able to bring the children to see the new development.
“They began their school journey in the building when it had been a reception classroom – they were amazed at the transformation and delighted with the thought that there were now people living in their old school!”
