Tenants move into new £4.5m council housing block in Portsmouth

TENANTS have started moving into new £4.5m council housing block of 23 homes in the city - that was completed despite the challenges of the pandemic.
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Work on the Albion House development on the site of the former Southsea Community Centre in King Street finished earlier this year.

Portsmouth key workers and builders worked through the outbreak of coronavirus to get the job done.

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The one and two-bedroom flats in the five-storey building will be rented out at affordable rates.

The completed Albion House in King Street. Picture: Portsmouth City CouncilThe completed Albion House in King Street. Picture: Portsmouth City Council
The completed Albion House in King Street. Picture: Portsmouth City Council
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New £4.5m housing block a step further to completion

Those involved in the project were praised by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Rob Wood.

He said: ‘We've all been inspired by stories of heroic key workers who have worked through difficult conditions to make sure that we get the health care, deliveries and services that we rely on.

‘Here is another story of Portsmouth people who have gone over and above the call of duty to supply something that Portsmouth so desperately needs - high quality housing that will be a lifeline to some of the most vulnerable people in the city.’

The completed Albion House in King Street. Picture: Portsmouth City CouncilThe completed Albion House in King Street. Picture: Portsmouth City Council
The completed Albion House in King Street. Picture: Portsmouth City Council
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Steve Cripps, managing director of PMC Construction - which led the development, added: ‘The project was built through the pandemic and, during the earlier stages, the site had to adapt daily to the government's updates on how construction sites should operate.

‘A special mention should also go to one of the labourers on site who travelled to and from the Isle of Wight each morning on a pre-booked slot at 7am every day.’

Albion House is one of five new housing developments the council announced last year.

These include Doyle Avenue in Hilsea, Brewery House in Southsea, Arundel Street in the city centre and the records office in Museum Road, Old Portsmouth.

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Cabinet member for housing, Cllr Darren Sanders, said this was a vital part of preventing homelessness in Portsmouth.

‘We're doing everything we can to make the situation better for people in this city who can't access the housing they need,’ he said.

‘An important part of that drive to deal with homelessness is that we are building council-owned homes for the people who need them most.’

Tenants started moving into the block on Monday.

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