Two Rivers gets started on Berry Hill housing scheme

Work is underway to build 17 new “affordable” homes in the rural village of Berry Hill, Coleford, in Gloucestershire.Two Rivers Housing says the development will help provide “much needed” homes for families in the area, and will include a mix of houses, apartments, and bungalows. Four of the homes will he for shared ownership.Hayley Selway, Two Rivers’ chief executive, said: “Great quality housing is the bedrock of family life, and we are committed to increasing the availability of affordable homes in the Forest of Dean and Gloucestershire. But we cannot do this alone.“This development is testament to the great things that can happen when we work together, and I’d like to thank all of our partners for their support in getting us to this point. Next year, this site will be providing warm, safe, affordable homes for local families and that is really good news for the Berry Hill community.”Due for completion in 2025, the homes have been designed to achieve an EPC A rating. They will feature air source heat pumps, solar panels, and mechanical heat recovery units.As the development is on a rural exception site, the housing association has been working closely with local partners to limit the impact the development will have on wildlife. Plans include bat, bird and dormice boxes as well as a small orchard, and two ‘buffer zones’ at the edges of the site, which will be left to grow naturally.There is also a real need for accessible homes in the area. So, with the help of funding from NHS Gloucestershire, Two Rivers Housing will be making two of the bungalows fully wheelchair accessible.Two Rivers Housing is partnering with local developer Mike Etheridge Construction, which will be responsible for building the homes on its behalf.Read next: Partners agree regeneration joint venture for Isle of Dogs estateAre you a social housing professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.