Works on Eastwood apartments for former homeless soldiers to start soon
Initial works to build apartments in Eastwood for former soldiers who may be homeless can now start, a year after the council first bought the land.
Broxtowe Council completed its purchase of empty land off Cross Street in Eastwood’s Hill Top for the new flats in October 2024.
The authority plans to build eight apartments, split as six one-bed flats and two, disability-adapted two-bed flats.
The purpose of the scheme is for them to be provided for the ex-forces who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
It was hoped the apartments would be available by this year, but now, a year after the land purchase, council leader Coun Milan Radulovic (Brox All) says he hopes formal building works will start by next spring.
He confirmed that site clearance work will start this month and the council-run project could go through the authority’s planning committee early next year.
He told the local democracy reporting service (LDRS): “Veterans being on the street is a national disgrace – we’re doing our bit.
“We have six ex-forces accommodation in Stapleford that are fully occupied.
"This only meets part of the local need, which we’ll look to increase over the years.
“We work with groups, veterans’ charities, the Royal British Legion, all those associations to identify those at risk of homelessness.
"While the project’s under way we’ll be looking to get these properties allocated to people as soon as we can.”
Coun Radulovic said the authority had to alter some of the designs as some of the flats were not big enough initially and a common room has been added to allow external support to have space on site.
He says there are plans to name the development after the late Sir Dennis Pettitt, a former D-Day Normandy veteran and who sat as leader of Nottinghamshire Council between 1981 to 1998.
Coun Radulovic added: “I’m particularly proud of the development.
"It wasn’t supported financially by the East Midlands Combined County Authority board, so we’re having to do it ourselves to meet the needs of local people.
“It’s time local authorities stepped up to the mark and we’re leading the way in Broxtowe.”
John Handley, chairman of the Eastwood and District Royal British Legion, said: “It’s disappointing the council haven’t been able to move faster, but these things take time.
"It will be great if they are able to start building next year.
“These places are in need, so the sooner they’re available the better.
"The council have always been at the front of supporting the armed forces.”
Broxtowe was one of the first local authorities in the country to sign the Armed Forces Covenant – a promise to acknowledge those who serve, or have served, in the forces and treat them with fairness and support.
The project will cost around £1.5m and will be primarily funded by the council, with Homes England in agreement to financially support the scheme.
In a Facebook post, Broxtowe Alliance said if the flats do not end up being fully occupied by ex-forces individuals, the homes will be open to other people who meet the authority’s housing criteria.
The apartments will be affordable rent, will have air source heating, cost less to run that standard council housing, and built to be environmentally friendly.