Communal garden grows for Southwell tenants

The residents of Coghill Court are now enjoying fresh turf, new planters, a rotary line and a new bin store. The garden was updated in conjunction with the council’s development of four new two bed bungalows on a piece of land next door.

A special event was held for tenants at the garden to officially open it, with Miles Harrison, one of the growers in the District Council’s successful Crop Drop scheme, leading a gardening demonstration. The demo allowed tenants to see how to plant herbs and vegetables such as rosemary, courgette, mint, tomatoes, lettuce and strawberries and then how to look after them too.

Sherwood’s Local Influence Network Chair, Helen Douthwaite, also attended to promote tenant engagement opportunities and will work with tenants to prepare a watering rota for the crops being grown.

Councillor Lee Brazier, Portfolio Holder for Homes and Health at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “The updates to the communal garden are fantastic for our tenants – giving them even more reason to enjoy the outdoors and get their fingers green by growing their own vegetables to enjoy.

“When building new homes in an area, we always engage with neighbouring residents and see how else we may be able to help and schemes such as this show how well this can work.”

The new bungalows will be dedicated for supported accommodation and were designed by Studio G Architects, built by local construction company Gusto Construction Ltd and have energy efficient heating solutions installed. This includes double A rated boilers, insulation in the roof, wall and floor and high efficiency double glazing.

Solar powered street lighting has also been installed as part of the scheme. 

Jerome Wright, Commercial Director at Gusto, said: “It was great to meet and hand over the keys to the four new bungalows and to hear that they are soon to be occupied by some very lucky tenants.

“They are in a great location close to the centre of Southwell and have been designed and built using good quality traditional materials and detailing. It’s the first project that we have completed for Newark and Sherwood District Council, so it was good to hear the positive comments and feedback from everyone who attended on the way that the job had been delivered by our team on site.”

The District Council’s five year house building programme is nearing completion with a total of 343 homes expected to have been delivered by the start of 2024.

Construction is currently underway on site for 12 new one-bed flats at North Gate in Newark, five bungalows and four flats at Devon Road, Hawtonville, two two-bed flats at Eton Avenue in Hawtonville and seven homes at Dale Lane in Blidworth. New temporary accommodation at Quibells Lane, Newark is also nearing completion with 20 flexible-use units and a community centre.