Taylor Wimpey is the lead developer on the 86.5 acre site of the government’s 5th Millennium Community. The scheme includes 675 high quality eco-friendly homes with 30% affordable provision, retained & enhanced public spaces, a school and community centre.

Reclamation and infrastructure works commenced in 2006. Enhancements to the playing fields were completed in 2007, including laying new drainage and capping mine. Construction of housing commenced in January 2007.

Partnership

Taylor Wimpey is working in partnership with the landowners English Partnerships (now renamed Homes and Communities Agency (HCA)) and the Borough of Telford and Wrekin (BTW). Partnership arrangements include:

• English Partnerships (EP) and BTW have a Joint Venture land ownership agreement, providing phased Build Licenses to Taylor Wimpey through a Development Agreement.
• The residual open space and ecology areas are either transferred to a Community Trust set up by Taylor Wimpey (but run by residents on completion of the development) or adopted by BTW.
• There is a Business Plan with a minimum developer margin, plus profit sharing agreement once EP's initial remediation and infrastructure costs have been repaid. The joint ownership of the business plan and profit sharing has helped us to retain common goals and avoid some control problems.
• There are Millennium Community standards and aspirational targets over Building Regulations that are enforced through the S106.

Community Consultation

Community Consultation and working jointly to deliver a shared vision is fundamental to the project:

• An expert was commissioned to recommend a communication structure (with roles and responsibilities) to ensure all stakeholder groups were taken into account with a cascade down from a Steering Group to a local partnership advisory group.
• The formal consultation period lasted almost two years and incorporated public design workshops (focusing on traffic, sustainability, design) and liaison with the Parish Council. Community confidence building included visits to Taylor Wimpey schemes to demonstrate quality, diversity and successful apartment schemes.
• We are continuing to deliver regular newsletters and updates are posted on the community website so that the community is kept informed about the latest developments. Local people are still able to make their views known via the dedicated community website.  
• Planning was granted with much public enthusiasm.

Awards

• Telford Millennium Community, Easy Ketley – Winner of Best Innovation In Design, Housebuilding Innovation Awards 2007
• Telford Millennium Community, East Ketley – Project Winner, Housing Design Awards 2007