Harworth: New council houses officially unveiled as part of £5.7m project

The official opening of the new housing project Smith Square by A1 Hosuing in Harworth. Sarah Cartlidge is pictured in front of her new home with councillors and team members.

A1 Housing, Bassetlaw District Council and building contractors Woodhead officially launched the first phase of the three-year project which has included 19 properties being built on a former recreation field at Smith Square in Harworth.

In total, 71 new homes will be constructed on Smith Square and Thompson Avenue to replace the outdated ‘Airey’ homes – a pre-fabricated house built after the Second World War – with a mix of two, three and four-bedroom semi-detached and detached houses, two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows and flats.

Sarah Cartlidge, one of the first to move onto the new street, said: “It had been talked about for several years and it was one of those things that we thought would never happen. Then when it became clear it was really happening, it was like being in a bit of dream and it’s great to think that we will have a new, cosy, safe home.”

The council say the project will be completed over three phases with an initial budget of £5.7m, including £1.02m worth of government funding for the first two phases. HCA funding of £686,000 is also to be confirmed for phase three of the project.

Work has already begun on phase two, which will see the remaining eight ‘Airey’ houses on Smith Square demolished to make way for 24 new properties.

Once complete, the remaining residents of Common Lane and Styrrup Road will move into the new properties.

Phase three will see the remaining ‘Airey’ houses on Thompson Avenue demolished and a further 28 new properties developed on the site.