"It was a pleasure to welcome Andy to Tiverton Road to discuss our plans for the site and how that will support his housing programme across the West Midlands."
Peter Deeley
A brownfield affordable homes development on the site of a former Coventry school has been given a mayoral seal of approval.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, paid a visit to the site of the former Dartmouth School in Wyken which is being re-developed by Coventry-based family firm the Deeley Group for leading housing provider Stonewater.
The Mayor met with Peter Deeley, managing director of the Deeley Group which is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, at the site and learned about the plans to build 39 new homes, including 23 affordable rented and 16 shared ownership properties.
It had been a redundant brownfield site for more than five years before Stonewater bought it from Coventry City Council.
On completion it will feature a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses and provide vital housing to the local community.
Andy Street praised the firm’s plans to regenerate the site and that the project aligns perfectly with his region-wide championing of a brownfield first approach to housing.
He said: “The two key components for building new homes in our region are for developments to be ‘brownfield first’ and then also affordable to the people who live in those areas.
“The development in Coventry ticks both of those boxes and is an example of the great progress we are making regionally to meet the housing challenge.
“It was fascinating to speak with Peter Deeley and hear about the extensive work the company has done in this area of Coventry over the last 85 years and the strong relationship they have with the community here.
“I congratulate the Deeley Group and Stonewater for bringing this project to fruition and look forward to seeing it at its completion and serving the local community.”
Deeley Group has a history of development in the area, building St John Fisher Catholic Primary school in the 1950s and St John Fisher Church and Hall in the 1970s.
Peter Deeley, managing director of the Deeley Group, added: “We are giving this redundant brownfield site a new life and helping to provide crucial new housing for people in the locality too.
“It was a pleasure to welcome Andy to Tiverton Road to discuss our plans for the site and how that will support his housing programme across the West Midlands.
“We are working closely with Stonewater to deliver the development and hope Andy will return to visit when the project is completed.”
Matt Crucefix, director of development (South and West) at Stonewater, said: “There is a genuine need for more housing of this type in Coventry and it has been a pleasure working with the Deeley Group to bring this scheme to life.
“With every new development, we look for ways to invest in the local economy – by working with local contractors and suppliers – to ensure we add as much value to the community as possible.
“We’re delighted to hear Andy is pleased with the progress of this site so far and look forward to welcoming him to the completed scheme along with our new residents, later this year.”
PICTURE CAPTION: Andy Street and Peter Deeley.
