Residents have moved into five new bungalows - powered by low carbon technologies - built on a former garage site.
The two-bed homes will be managed by Rykneld Homes on behalf of North East Derbyshire District Council and complete the first phase of a major regeneration project in Stonebroom.
Maureen Hawkins, 88, was one of the first residents to move in.
“I can’t believe it’s my home,” she said.
“Don’t get me wrong, I loved my old house but this is just wonderful. As soon as I saw it I knew I’d be happy here.”
Maureen previously lived in one of The Bungalows, an estate of more than 50 post-war social homes which are now being demolished to make way for 69 modern, high-quality homes.
Maureen added: “I was the last one up where I was. I’d lived there for 30 years so it was a big wrench to move.
“I said from the start I wanted to stay within the community and the team at Rykneld have been brilliant.
“It was all handed sensitively, they explained everything, kept me updated, checked on me all the way through.
“There’s a few boxes left to unpack but I’m feeling very settled and happy.”
The properties were constructed by Gelder Group with the project managed by Rykneld Homes, on behalf of North East Derbyshire District Council and part-funded by Homes England.
They feature solar panels, air source heat pumps and EV chargers. Each property has its own garden, parking space as well as a communal area out front.
Rykneld Homes MD, Niall Clark, said: “Providing safe and decent homes for customers is our priority, using Brownfield land like this former garage site is an excellent way to do that.
“The completion of these first five homes is an important step towards our wider plans to regenerate the Stonebroom area.
“The high-quality finish here is exactly what we will see when the new homes are built on the main site.”
Leader of North East Derbyshire District Council, Nigel Barker, added: “Sites like this are an important and effective way to help us offer more social homes in partnership with Rykneld Homes.
“The residents are all very happy and it’s easy to see why.”
The wider Stonebroom regeneration project includes the demolition of 50 existing properties which is now underway. The old homes will be replaced with 69 new two-bed homes. All work is expected to be completed in summer 2028.
Copyright: Beth Walsh Photography on behalf of Rykneld Homes
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Caption: Steve Gelder - Gelder Group CEO, Maureen Hawkins, Helen Brown, Head of Regeneration at Rykneld Homes, Nigel Barker - leader of North East Derbyshire District Council, Niall Clark - Rykneld Homes MD.
RYK - Maureen - Stonebroom
Caption: Maureen Hawkins was one of the first residents to move into her new home on a former garage site in Stonebroom.
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Caption: Leif Davy - Contracts Manager, Gelder Group, Steve Gelder - Gelder Group CEO, Maureen Hawkins, Helen Brown - Head of Regeneration at Rykneld Homes, Hannah Phipps and Danielle Jones - Customer Liaison team at Rykneld Homes, Niall Clark - Rykneld Homes MD, Dave Mannion - Regeneration Contracts Manager at Rykneld Homes and Joe Bullimore – Regeneration Projects Manager at Rykneld Homes.
About Rykneld Homes
Rykneld Homes is a non-profit housing company responsible for the management, maintenance and improvement of around 7,600 properties and the neighbourhoods in which they are located on behalf of North East Derbyshire District Council. Rykneld are also a registered provider of affordable homes with a small but growing portfolio of its own housing stock. Visit rykneldhomes.org.uk for more information.
