Latest news with #ClarionHousingGroup
BBC News
19-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Crystal Palace: Historic dinosaur models part of £22m park upgrade
Funding for the regeneration of Crystal Palace Park, which includes the revamp of its Grade-I listed dinosaur sculptures, will be paid for from the sale of land adjacent to the park for affordable £22m from the sale has been ring-fenced by Bromley Council to pay for the dinosaurs' restoration as well as the creation of a dinosaur-themed playground, a visitor centre, community centre and café.Purchaser Clarion Housing Group is set to build approximately 120 houses on the land bought, which will be a mix of social rent and shared-ownership Bear, from the council, said this was "another milestone completed in the regeneration of this historic park". The 29 Grade I-listed dinosaur sculptures were created between 1853 and 1855 by artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and sit on an island in the creatures are thought to be the world's first attempt to model extinct animals at life-size, based on fossil remains as commonly known as the Crystal Palace dinosaurs, only four of the sculptures are technically dinosaurs with the others being ancient mammals, amphibians, and marine and flying reptiles. 'Thrive together' The sale of the land consists of two housing development sites, Rockhills and Sydenham Villas. Outline planning permission was granted for the housing as part of a wider regeneration plan in 2021, which is being co-delivered by Bromley Council and the Crystal Palace Park Bear said: 'While the land sale for housing has always been planned, I am pleased that we have managed to secure affordable housing from the sale.'Richard Cook, chief development officer at Clarion Housing Group, said it was "ensuring that both housing and heritage can thrive together, benefiting the local community for generations to come".Victoria Pinnington, chief executive of Crystal Palace Park Trust, said the sale was a 'fantastic investment in the park'.'As well as returning more park land to public enjoyment, it allows us to move forward in earnest with the regeneration of the park,' she from the sale comes following a number of grants being secured to support the upcoming works, including £5m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Dorking residents complain of long waits for home maintenance
Residents in Dorking say they have repeatedly complained to a housing association about problems with the maintenance of their to Clarion Housing Group include delays to replacing doors to prevent leaks and calls to adapt a home to make it suitable for someone with a neurological March, Mole Valley District Council's scrutiny committee heard that children were given inhalers by their GP after the discovery of damp and mould, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Housing Group said it took all repair issues reported by residents seriously, and that it had been working to resolve all cases. Chris Coghlan, MP for Dorking and Horley, said he had been contacted by residents with issues relating to rats and mould, adding that he was angry that residents had been ignored."I think Clarion really need to understand the impact of how they're managing their properties is having on the daily lives of many of my constituents, and they need to get a grip," he told BBC Radio Bailey has Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a neurological disorder which causes the gradual loss of wife, Tracy, said their home needed a downstairs bedroom, a wet room and wider doors for his wheelchair – and that she had contacted Clarion more than a year ago."Nothing was done until I got hold of Chris Coghlan," she said. "Now they've started sitting up and taking note, and coming out and asking us what we need."She said that Clarion had offered to move them to Leatherhead, but the couple were worried Mr Bailey would be unable to attend his current hospital and doctor. Meanwhile, Kenneth Cox said he had been told by Clarion that he may have to wait up to two years to get new doors to stop water leaking into his home."It's disgusting that I've got to live like this," he said. "It stresses me out just looking at it."Clarion said it regularly carried out planned investment in order to bring its homes up to modern standards.A spokesperson said Clarion recognised Mr Bailey's home was no longer suited to his needs, and that it was working with the council to find a more suitable also apologised for the delay in relacing Mr Cox's doors, citing a delay in ordering and manufacturing."We are now pursuing this as a matter of urgency," the spokesperson added.
