Local apprentice helps mark Hackney’s latest Council housing milestone
The latest development in Hackney Council’s ambitious plans to build thousands of Council homes is now on its way after building work at a Stoke Newington regeneration scheme reached a new milestone.
Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville was on hand to mark the topping out of the new homes at Aikin Court on Barbauld Road, which includes four new Council homes for social rent, as well as three homes for outright sale to help pay for them in the absence of government funding.
As well as providing much needed new homes for local people, these replace a block that had long suffered from subsidence with high quality homes meeting modern space and sustainability standards and designed to reflect the neighbouring townhouses in the local area.
The ceremony was also attended by Thaddeus Buffong, a local Hackney resident who was given the opportunity to build a career in the construction industry as part of the new development with the help of Hackney Works - the Council’s own employment and training service.
Working as an apprentice with Quadrillion and Hackney Council has given me the opportunity to launch a career in construction – I’ve now progressed into a permanent position as Assistant Site Manager and am taking a BSc Construction Management course at the University of East London.
As a long-term local resident I’m well aware of the housing crisis in Hackney, so it’s even more of a bonus to play a part in building new homes that I know will benefit local people.
Though only a small new development in itself, these homes will be life changing to those who will live here and, as one of more than 30 sites where Hackney is building new Council homes, contribute to our clear commitment to providing the homes our borough vitally needs.
But regeneration is about more than bricks and mortar, and it’s been great to meet Thaddeus today to hear about his enthusiasm for developing his career here in Hackney and see first-hand about the opportunities our housebuilding programme offers.
Aikin Court is part of the Council’s not-for-profit Estate Regeneration Programme, which will see nearly 3,000 council homes built at 18 sites across the borough, more than half of which are for social rent and shared ownership. The new homes are anticipated to be completed around spring 2018.
To find out more about construction apprenticeships or other opportunities through Hackney Works contact 020 8356 5700 or hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk, or visit www.hackney.gov.uk/hackney-works.