Orbit, one of Stratford’s largest landlords and developers, is celebrating its first venture into the Private Rented Sector with the opening of Fordham House in the heart of the town.
Located on the corner of Birmingham Road and Clopton Road, Fordham House opened its doors to the public on Friday 15 September with a VIP event co-officiated by local MP Nadhim Zahawi and Chris Crook, Orbit Homes Board Chair.
Opening the development, Nadhim Zahawi MP said: “I was delighted to formally open Fordham House and see the culmination of the innovative project that I visited earlier on during construction. Fordham House is unique in that it will give preference to those working in our NHS, our schools, and our emergency services - it truly is a blueprint for development and I was very pleased to be able to celebrate its opening with Orbit and all those involved in the project.”
Fordham House comprises 82 high-quality apartments and has been developed by Orbit in partnership with Deeley Construction, ABD Developments and Stratford Town Trust and offers enviable priority accommodation to the town’s key workers and locals.
Chris Crook, Orbit Homes Board Chair, said: “Orbit has been investing in providing quality homes and services to support its customers since 1967 and Fordham House is an extension of our commitment to provide a housing offer for everyone.
“As an ethical landlord, we have long-term investment plans to improve the social, economic and environmental prospects of communities and developments like Fordham House make a profit so we can re-invest into building more homes to suit all needs and aspirations.”
Orbit, now the UK’s second largest developing housing association, currently own and manage around 7,000 properties in the district. Cllr Christopher Saint, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Cllr Victoria Alcock, Mayor, joined a number of local councillors, Orbit Board members, staff and partners to celebrate the opening.
Peter Deeley, Managing Director, Deeley Group, added: “We are at absolutely thrilled to see Fordham House opening as we know the great, positive impact it will have on Stratford.
“We are big believers in working in partnership and very much see benefit of relationships in business. Fordham House is a perfect example of that, bringing together several partners, with Deeley Group very much at the heart of that, to deliver a much-needed living development of new homes to regenerate this area.”
The £10.4m scheme includes 64 spacious one bedroom and 18 two bedroom apartments and each home is designed with the private market rental customer in mind, with minimum maintenance requirements and finished to an exacting standard with the latest in cutting edge technology.
Orbit has created a new digital service designed to offer a bespoke online experience for new private rented customers at Fordham House. It’s an easy and convenient way for customers to manage their tenancy, from viewing their rent account to reporting a repair.
Justin Williams, Chief Executive, Stratford Town Trust commented: “Fordham House is a ground-breaking initiative and one we are proud to be a partner in. Using the site occupied by a vacant office building and turning it into a high quality, centrally located, site for affordable homes for key workers answers a real local need.”