Client: Ongo
Value: £2,500,000
Contracts Manager: Simon Taylor
Site Manager: Paul Binnington
Westcliff sits within the Brumby Ward of North Lincolnshire and fell within the 10% most deprived communities, based on the overall index of multiple deprivation. Turning around the fortunes of Westcliff has been a challenge for more than a decade featuring on the TV documentary “Skint” which highlighted inequalities experienced in the neighbourhood. Ongo Homes, in partnership with North Lincolnshire Council, engaged with a somewhat sceptical community and together with service providers created a way forward focused on the heart of the estate which displayed the greatest signs of market failure. Influenced by community feedback a new neighbourhood centre was to be up and running before the existing, run down and largely vacant precinct was demolished, making way for the next phases of a major regeneration investment.
Simon Taylor and Paul Binnington, led the build of this transformational 1250 m2, £2.5m neighbourhood centre, designed by Framework Architects providing a One Stop convenience store, three retail units let to local people, a Cooperative pharmacy and a wellbeing and enterprise hub containing a range of community amenities including a nursery, a post office, café/bistro, learning advice, training and support and workspace. The scheme is of traditional construction and built to very high environmental standards reflected in the BREEAM Good rating and one of the first local environment Secured by Design accreditations. As a brown field site redevelopment, the contractor has worked closely with NLC Building Control who developed the energy efficiency calculations shaping the services design with overcoming many technical challenges arising from existing services and ground conditions and levels, developing solutions for fire and safety compliance and supporting incoming tenants through the process of fit out building regulation compliance. A close and constructive working relationship between the contractor, supply chain, tenants and building control has been a real strength through the project delivery phase.
Reflecting sound place making principles, this scheme saw 90% of the workforce drawn locally, involving almost 3000 person days and two local apprentices. Benefitting from Local Authority and Local Enterprise Partnership support, this place making exemplar has proved popular with tenants and customers, a testimony to the design and quality of the build. With a roadside frontage accessible by public transport, the neighbourhood centre incorporates measures to reduce noise, provides staff car parking, delivery space and separate customer car parking, all covered by CCTV. The neighbourhood centre is managed by Ongo Homes and provides a catalyst for positive change to the residents of Westcliff as the first step in a wider regeneration plan. This is a scheme the community never thought would happen but with the drive and commitment of Ongo Homes together with the Local Authority, construction delivery partners and others, has become a remarkable success story.
