2023 - July, Our news

PA Housing’s Laurelwood Place (formerly Thamesview House) development, delivered in partnership with Elmbridge Borough Council and award-winning housebuilder, The Hill Group, will be located in the heart of the community, just 10 minutes’ walk from the town centre.

Partners delivering an affordable housing scheme which will provide almost 100 much-needed homes in Walton-on-Thames met at a ground-breaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction.

The new neighbourhood, which is being supported by funding from Homes England, will feature a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments including 45 social rent and 52 shared ownership homes, meeting local housing needs.

It will replace the outdated flats of the former Thames Mead Estate, which were built in 1972 and were no longer fit for purpose, providing better quality homes for local residents.

Designed with sustainability at its heart, the scheme will achieve a 35% improvement on current building regulations relating to CO2 emissions.

Photovoltaic panels will be fitted on the apartment roofs, generating renewable energy onsite, and air source heat pumps will be installed as part of the development’s energy strategy. Also, 20% of the 97 parking spaces will have electric vehicle charging points. Biodiversity will be encouraged through living roofs, bird and bat boxes, and bee-friendly planting.

Significant environmental improvements will benefit residents living in the surrounding area while space on the ground floor of one apartment block will be set aside for community use. PA Housing will also contribute to improving the Felix Road park and local transport links.

Suzannah Taylor, Executive Director of Development at PA Housing, said:

 “We have developed a strong working relationship with both The Hill Group and Elmbridge Borough Council over the years with all parties committed to providing good quality homes for local people in need of somewhere affordable to live. 

“The Laurelwood House scheme will replace the outdated Thamesview House, which no longer met modern standards, offering residents comfortable and contemporary homes they can be proud of.

“A range of environmentally-friendly measures will also be factored into the construction, significantly reducing harmful CO2 emissions and helping residents to make much-needed savings on their energy bills.”

Councillor Alex Batchelor, Portfolio Holder for Housing at Elmbridge Borough Council, added:

 “Elmbridge is a very desirable place to live and this is reflected in the high costs of housing which are beyond the reach of an increasing proportion of those living or working in the borough. The need to increase the supply of affordable, well-designed housing is clear. Delivering on this challenge will require innovative collaborations like this one, where the council, PA Housing, and The Hill Group have combined their resources.  

“Laurelwood House will provide a mix of homes for rent and shared-ownership for a range of household sizes and types. I wish PA Housing and The Hill Group well for the construction and look forward to returning towards the end of next year to mark the project’s completion.”

Simon Trice, Managing Director at The Hill Group, said:

 “We are delighted to have officially broken ground at Laurelwood Place, marking this significant milestone in partnership with PA Housing and Elmbridge Borough Council. 

"Designed to meet the needs of current and future residents, this important regeneration scheme will provide high-quality, energy-efficient, affordable homes that will help to improve people’s lives. We will also be offering employment opportunities for local people to further our positive impact on the community.”