Celebrating completion of new homes – Phase 2, John Barker Place
We were delighted to welcome colleagues, partners and stakeholders to celebrate the delivery of the new homes at Phase 2 of the John Barker Place development in Westmill estate, Hitchin this week.
Dignitaries and representatives from North Herts Council, including Chair of the Council Cllr Clare Billing, Cllr Nigel Mason, and Council Leader Cllr Daniel Allen, joined us for the occasion.
We were also pleased to be joined by valued partners from Homes England, contractors Lovell Partnerships, and key contributors to the scheme’s design and construction – Hunters Architects and Employer’s Agent, Potter Raper.
A Milestone for the John Barker Place Community
The completion of Phase 2 marks another significant milestone in our long-term investment in regenerating John Barker Place. This development follows the successful delivery of the Westmill Community Centre in 2016 and the Swinburne playground in 2019.
Kingfisher House, which was Phase 1 of the development was completed in 2022 and includes 37 homes and two commercial units. Phase 2 has delivered 24 new homes for social rent in Oughton and Cornmill House, and 22 new homes for shared ownership.
Executive Director of Development at Settle, Fiona Coulson said:
“We are truly delighted to be standing in one of these beautiful new homes today and to have delivered on what we set out to do when we started planning these homes over a decade ago. We know how important it is to deliver new affordable and high – quality homes that provides people with a foundation to build their lives on.
“We would like to extend our thanks to the residents, partners and key stakeholders for their ongoing support and commitment to the regeneration of John Barker Place. Special thanks go to Homes England and North Herts Council for supporting Settle with the funding to make this scheme a reality. We wish the new residents every happiness in their new homes.”
Chair of North Herts Council and local Councillor, Clare Billing welcomed the new homes:
“Providing housing is more than just bricks and mortar – it’s about creating a sense of belonging, security and opportunity for people who live here.
“This development stands as a testament to what can be achieved when we work together to invest in high-quality, affordable homes and community spaces. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Settle for their commitment to this ambitious project and for their dedication to improving the lives of residents in Hitchin.”
Justine Fancy, Programme Director at Lovell Partnerships added:
“It’s been great to work with Settle and all the other teams on this programme to deliver more affordable housing in North Hertfordshire. Hopefully all the new residents will love them as much as we do. It’s a scheme to be really proud of.
Happy residents
We were proud to speak to new residents in a short film and they shared what their new homes meant to them.
Resident Heidi said:
“It was an amazing surprise to see our new home – the space we have here, the wonderful balcony, the doors… a lovely new home. They’ve put an awful lot of thought into this, aligning everything to the people moving in.”
Interested in a Shared Ownership Home?
For those interested in the shared ownership homes at John Barker Place, more information and brochures are available on the Settle Sales website:settlesales.co.uk/weaversrise.
Continued investment in John Barker Place
We are waiting for final permission to be agreed for Phase 3 of the development at John Barker Place in Westmill.
The development of 48 new affordable homes will be a mixture of social rent and shared ownership homes on the site of Freemans Close.
