The tenants who will soon be moving into new housing on Brown Lane East in Holbeck were welcomed to Holbeck at an event at Holbeck Working Men’s Club on Saturday morning (10 January 2015).
Unity Housing Association which has built the new properties invited new tenants to a meet and greet session. It was a chance to find out more about their new home and meet their new neighbours.
Wayne Noteman, Unity’s Regeneration Director, presented a slideshow picking out important features of the new housing including extra large windows, high noise and warmth insulation and larger room sizes than the private sector. The homes are due to be completed in three to four weeks time, at which point tenants will be handed their keys.
Also on hand were local Councillors Adam Ogilvie and Angela Gabriel. Adam welcomed the tenants to Holbeck saying:
“We are here to help you if you have any issues with bins, schools, or anything else. We have been working with Unity and others to get this new housing and we are delighted that regeneration has started.
“This is a strong community you are moving into. Welcome to Holbeck.”
Dennis Kitchen and Ian Pickup introduced a number of local organisations including the club itself, Holbeck Gala and the Holbeck Neighbourhood Plan. Holbeck In Bloom have planted a mass of bulbs on the side of Holbeck Moor facing the new housing which they hope will spur tenants to work on their new gardens.
I spoke to several of the new tenants. Some were moving from Beeston and Osmanthorpe, but others were already living in Holbeck. All were excited to be moving into new spacious and warm homes. They welcomed the opportunity to meet their new neighbours and as one man put it:
“It’s a new year and a new home.”
