MENCAP

The opening ceremony of Harpenden Mencap’s long-awaited project to build a block of flats was recently held on site at Carlton Road in Harpenden.

Local company Jarvis Contracting is designing and building the £1.6m development of 11 one-bedroom flats for people with a learning disability in Hertfordshire. A pair of 1930s semi-detached houses has been demolished to make way for the striking contemporary building, and now, following the brief but significant milestone of ‘turning the first sod’ at the ceremony, work on digging the foundations has begun.

L to R : Steve Cook, MD of Jarvis Contracting, the Mayor Michael Weaver, Councilor Nicola Linacre, Judith Hill, Daniel Langden, Councilor Julie Bell, Jenny Warren

They are being designed to the Government’s code 4 for sustainable homes, incorporating environmentally friendly and sustainable energy features for low energy consumption such as photovoltaic panels and rainwater harvesting. The flats will be ready for occupation in 2012.

The Town Mayor, Councilor Michael Weaver, kindly agreed to ply the silver spade at the ceremony which was held on 20 July on the site. ‘I am delighted to have been invited to mark the start of this excellent new development,’ he said. ‘It will provide a much-needed facility for Harpenden Mencap.’

Patrick Fisher, a Harpenden Mencap Trustee, said: “Our current tenants are immensely excited at the prospect of having their own individual flats which will enable them to live near their friends. The society has been searching for additional accommodation for many years so this will meet a long-felt need.”