Telford trio create new homes on their doorstep at Newcomen Way

Contractors Carl Sedgewick, Dean Gordon and Scott Jones are part of the team creating over 55 affordable properties at the Telford site – a Keon Homes development which has been acquired from Homes England through the Telford Land Deal.

All three work for Chasetown Civil Engineering, Keon’s sister company, and have been on site driving the project forward since February.

The group are all Telford born-and-bred and are pleased to be playing key roles in transforming areas of the town.

Groundworks team member Carl Sedgewick now lives in Madeley, Telford but used to live just around the corner from the Newcomen Way development.

Carl, who works on drainage systems, concreting and structural work on site, said:

“I grew up a stone’s throw from here so it’s fantastic to see this project really taking shape.

“These homes will make a big difference to the area and provide a big boost for the community.

“I lived here for 30 years so it’s great to be working on a building site where I feel like I’m giving something back to the local area and making it a better place to live. 

“The houses are really looking impressive now which we’re delivering on behalf of Bromford Housing.”

Groundworks Supervisor Dean Gordon has lived in Telford for almost 40 years and lives just two miles away from the Newcomen Way site in Doseley.

Dean said:

“Telford is always a place close to my heart so to be involved in a project like this is rewarding and you feel like you’re making a difference on a site close to home.

“Newcomen Way has brought jobs to the site for local people like ourselves and shared ownership schemes can help people get their foot on the property ladder.

“Very often in this line of work you can be working on building sites miles away from home so it’s great to be involved in local projects like this. 

“We’ve also helped to resurface the badly worn car park for Woodside Allotments next door to the development which was in a desperate state of repair.

“We cleared the car park, relayed the area with hard-core and reinstated the car park which has helped us to build bridges with the allotment committee and the wider community as well.”

Contracts Manager Scott Jones, who lives in Dawley, Telford, said:

“This is a great project and one we’re really pleased to be involved with. 

“It will give this area a new lease of life, it has created jobs for local people and will create affordable homes which the area can be proud of.”

Under the Land Deal, a partnership between Telford & Wrekin Council, Homes England and the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the council has responsibility to bring forward the sites under the Deal and de-risk them providing ‘shovel ready’ sites available for development for both residential and employment uses.

Keon purchased the Newcomen Way land earlier this year and the site is scheduled to be completed by October 2022.

With a strong track record of delivering affordable homes across the region, Keon are pleased to be employing local labour and apprentices as the construction project progresses. 

Employing local people is also helping to reduce the company’s carbon footprint with less journeys and people walking or cycling to work instead.

Councillor David Wright, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy, Housing, Transport and Infrastructure, said: 

“The Telford Land Deal is bringing new jobs to the area and is also creating work for local people and this project is a prime example of that.

“It’s fantastic to see that people who have lived in Telford all, or the majority of, their lives are playing key roles in the Newcomen Way project and creating affordable homes on behalf of Bromford Housing Group which will serve many generations to come.”

Mandy Thorn MBE, chair of the Marches LEP, said:

“Our unique partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council and Homes England has made this sort of success story possible. 

“It’s wonderful to see how people with a real connection to the area are now helping transform it, thanks to this innovative partnership agreement.”