Six new homes have been opened in Faringdon in memory of a woman who campaigned tirelessly for the rights of hundreds of tenants.
Builder Rok constructed the flats for The Vale Housing Association at the development called Russell Walk, named after the late Barbara Russell who died in 2004.
Mrs Russell was a tenant representative and member of The Vale Housing Association board from 1993, becoming Vice Chair in October 1997.
She helped set up the Abingdon area tenant forum and was instrumental in making sure tenants’ interests were represented at all levels of the organisation.
Among those who attended an official opening of the new flats in Southampton Street was Mrs Russell’s husband Fred, who followed Barbara’s lead and was elected a Vale tenant board member in September 2004.
He said: “It gives me a lot of pleasure to open this new development because it not only remembers Barbara and the time and energy she put into the work she did for The Vale Housing Association but it is also the first new development under the new partnership with the Sovereign Group and hopefully will lead to a lot more new development.
“She thought The Vale Housing Association was the best thing to happen in housing. She always wanted the best for the tenants and it has made me extremely proud that this development will keep her memory and her work alive.
“It gives me great pleasure to name this place Russell Walk and I hope everybody who lives here will be happy.”
Rok ensured that the flats, built on a brown field site, were constructed to a very high energy efficient standard, ensuring low running costs for the occupier. There is also provision for full waste recycling while water butts have been installed in the communal garden.
The £600,000 project began in October last year and was delivered on time by Rok despite work being delayed for a month through bad weather.
The apartments have been built in a cottage style, each with its own front door, and are staggered to break up the front elevation of the building.
Rok and Vale listened to the concerns about parking from the local community, and managed to create off-street parking for local residents.
Tony Barry, Rok Contracts Manager, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Vale and other partners to create six much-needed new social housing flats in Faringdon in a style that is both architecturally attractive and which achieved a very good eco-rating.
“Rok worked hard to overcome some challenges during the project, such as poor weather, to make sure the scheme was delivered on time.
“The scheme once again demonstrates why Rok is one of the country’s leading providers of building and maintenance services to the UK’s social housing sector.”
The Vale Housing Association thanked Rok for donating two garden benches for use in the communal garden at the flats.
All tenants at the new flats have been nominated by The Vale of White Horse District Council.
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