Families move into a transformed Johnstone Close in time for Christmas

We’ve welcomed families to our redeveloped Johnstone Close site in Staunton in time for Christmas.

Hayley Selway, Chief Executive at Two Rivers Housing visited the site to celebrate the completion of the project. Talking to partners and tenants, she said:

“We are so pleased to be able to welcome tenants to their new homes at Johnstone Close in time for Christmas. With thousands of families still waiting for affordable homes, projects like these are so important and provide much needed warm, safe, affordable homes for local families.

“I’d like to thank all of our partners for their support. Together we have transformed an outdated residential block into a place where families can thrive. I hope that they will be very happy in their new homes for many years to come.”

This video shows how we worked together with our partners to transform Johnstone Close into 20 new affordable homes for families in Staunton.

A report published by Gloucestershire County Council in 2022, revealed that there were more than 1,850 people on the waiting list for social housing in the Forest of Dean and more than 19,000 new homes would be needed across the county by 2041. The completed redevelopment of our former sheltered housing scheme has now brought 20 much needed new affordable homes to the rural village of Staunton in the Forest of Dean.

We worked in partnership with Harper Group to provide a mix of two- and three-bedroom homes as well as one-bedroom flats and bungalows on the site. The new development also includes six homes available to buy through the government’s Shared Ownership scheme.

The new homes have been designed to meet an EPC A rating and have been fitted with air source heat pumps and electric car charging points – making them warmer and more energy efficient for the families moving in.

Antony Rees, Group Managing Director from construction group J. Harper & Sons (Leominster) Limited commented: “We are delighted to have delivered 20 energy-efficient, high-quality, affordable homes in collaboration with Two Rivers Housing. This regeneration project transformed a former sheltered housing scheme into homes designed to blend in seamlessly with the surroundings.”

Plans to transform the former sheltered housing scheme site began in 2018 following a consultation with tenants. We worked with the Forest of Dean District Council and Staunton Parish Council to submit a plan for 20 new affordable homes to help meet the local housing need.

The project was given funding from Homes England in 2023, and demolition began in October 2024. Just 14 months later, keys to the new homes have been handed over to tenants who were able to move in just in time for Christmas.

Laura Marsland, Delivery Manager at Homes England, which provided funding for the project, added: “As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities.

“This investment through the Affordable Homes Programme does just that, enabling Two Rivers Housing to build 20 much needed new homes the people of Staunton can be proud of.”

The new development was also supported by the Forest of Dean District Council, Staunton Parish Council and Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC).