Southampton City Council appoints Affordable Housing Provider to deliver new homes at Townhill Park

Southampton City Council is delighted to announce the appointment of housing provider Abri as their preferred bidder to deliver up to 189 much needed affordable homes in Townhill Park

Locally based Abri will work in partnership with the council on the first two plots revealed from the framework, as part of a wider regeneration of the area. This will involve the council transferring designated land to Abri, in order to build the properties.

The first plot covers the existing Benhams Road, Meggeson Avenue, Hallet Close and Cutbush Lane. The second plot encompasses Meggeson Avenue shops and residential, where a new convenience store and community café have also been proposed.

The developments come as part of Southampton City Council’s Affordable Housing Framework which was set up to build more affordable homes in the city. Plots 5 and 6 are the first sites to be developed as part of the Affordable Homes Framework.

The framework allows the council to use its own land to address the significant need for affordable housing in Southampton and will provide the opportunity for development of social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership properties which will help people get onto the housing ladder. The wider regeneration of Townhill Park will replace old council housing stock with more than 600 brand new energy efficient homes.

Councillor Lorna Fielker, Leader of Southampton City Council, said: “The appointment of Abri to build new homes at Townhill Park is not only a huge milestone for the Affordable Housing Framework, but also for the Townhill Park Regeneration Programme.

‘The Affordable Housing Framework will help the council achieve its commitments to delivering good-quality, affordable housing for our residents to live comfortably and thrive.”

Sam Stone, Director of Land and Planning at Abri said: “Abri's committed to providing safe, sustainable and affordable homes. As the preferred bidder we look forward to working closely with Southampton City Council and the local community to bring forward these new homes. Over the coming months we’ll be listening to feedback from local residents as we start to progress the detailed designs to ensure the homes meet the needs of everyone living in the local area.”

Councillor Phil Webb, Ward Councillor covering Plots 5 and 6 at Townhill Park, added: “I am delighted that Abri have been chosen to deliver much needed housing at Townhill Park. These new homes will greatly enrich our community, and I am looking forward to working with Abri and local residents to ensure their views are represented throughout.”

Plot 2 and 9

The council has now also gone out to tender for a Registered Provider to build new affordable homes on Plot 2 (which has a boundary of Meggeson Avenue, Townhill Way, Paulet Close and Cutbush Lane) and Plot 9 (Rowlands Walk) using our Affordable Housing Framework. The tenders have been issued to the Affordable Housing Providers who were appointed onto the Framework. They are expected to be returned in the autumn. Following this, it is anticipated that a registered provider will be appointed to the two plots in early 2025.