Work to build homes begins in regeneration of Bradford estate

The development off Manchester Road was built in the early 1970s and included more than 160 flats, designed to be a “utopian estate”.

Following consultation with tenants and local residents, Accent Housing took the decision to demolish the ageing, poor-quality flats and regenerate the entire site.

Construction is underway at Ripleyville site in Bradford (Image: Accent Housing)

Demolition and the clearing of the site took place earlier this year, and work on the new development started earlier in November with initial groundworks underway.

A total of 73 homes for affordable rent will be built, including small homes for single people or couples, as well as homes for large family groups.

They have been designed to be highly energy-efficient, using air-source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels, instead of a gas supply to the scheme.

An artist's impression of the planned housing scheme at Ripleyville (Image: Accent Housing)

Accent believes the regeneration of Ripleyville will have a lasting impact on the surrounding area and transform the appearance of the neighbourhood.

Sarah Ireland, executive director of strategy and growth at Accent Housing said: “The regeneration of Ripleyville is a key development for Accent Housing and is a project that allows us to demonstrate our continued commitment to providing top-standard homes for our customers that truly meet their needs, and to be innovative.

Demolition work on the Ripleyville housing estate (Image: Newsquest)

“The new scheme will provide family-sized homes, as opposed to the previous apartments, which will meet the needs of multi-generational families. It will also meet the identified local housing need, providing large five-bedroom homes and wheelchair-friendly bungalows as well as a variety of other house types.

“The benefits to the community, culture and economy of this area will be significant, with a refreshed focus on family living. 73 new families will be able to support local businesses, use transport links and attend local schools – all adding to a greater feeling of neighbourhood and community.”

The 1970s Ripleyville estate (Image: Newsquest)

Ripleyville will be delivered as part of Accent’s strategic partnership with Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, and has received a grant from the affordable housing programme 2021-2026.

Simon Woodward, operations director at Esh Construction, which is building the new Ripleyville homes, said: “This contract award marks the first scheme we have delivered with Accent in several years within Yorkshire, demonstrating our continued growth across the region.

“The redevelopment of Ripleyville is of huge significance in the local area and will deliver great benefit to the community for years to come. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Accent on this major regeneration project and look forward to delivering both social and economic value throughout the scheme.”