NEWSROOM

A report to cabinet today (12 February) summarised the progress Nuplace has made in a decade.

Since it launched, 669 homes have been built or restored and now provide high quality private rent accommodation to an estimated 1,750 residents. With a further 121 homes currently under construction, Nuplace continues to grow its portfolio.

With creating homes to meet local private rent housing needs as its primary purpose, Nuplace’s investment of £93million over the ten-year period has generated a net income to the Council of £13.8million, which is being used to support the delivery of frontline Council services. And in the last three developments to complete, approximately three quarters of tenants moving in have been from the Telford and Wrekin area.

Whilst the majority of Nuplace properties are offered as private rent, a proportion of properties are let at 80% of open market rent to provide a more affordable home and support those on lower incomes to access the housing they need.

In the last five years, Nuplace has also diversified its portfolio through its Telford and Wrekin Homes programme, which has seen it transform older properties, bringing them up to modern living standards and contributing 57 homes to the portfolio.

It has also embarked on a series of schemes to refurbish and preserve historical buildings, including the Gower in St George’s and the former Victorian School on Main Road in Ketley Bank.

Its flagship project, a fully furnished apartment complex in the heart of Telford town centre is also gathering pace, with the first tenants expected to move in later this year.

Having developed a successful business model, members were updated on plans to invest a further £35million over the next five years to create an additional 158 homes.

Councillor Richard Overton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing and Enforcement, said:

“We are incredibly proud to report what Nuplace has achieved in the last ten years and its ambitions for the future. Thanks to a successful business model, and sound investment, we’ve been able to turn a profit that goes straight into supporting the work of Nuplace and delivering essential services for the benefit of residents in the community.

“Through the development of quality homes, we are helping to raise standards in the private sector and providing homes that local people need, which is reflected in our extremely low void rates across all our developments. This demonstrates not only the strong demand for our homes, but also the trust and satisfaction of the people who live in them.

“Beyond building homes, we are committed to creating wider social impact. Through bespoke social value projects, we’ve been able to positively contribute to both strategic and local priorities. This includes supporting employment, training and apprenticeships, developing local supply chains, and delivering a range of community initiatives that benefit residents and neighbourhoods. These activities ensure that every Nuplace development brings lasting value to the communities we serve.”

Councillor Carolyn Healy, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Sustainability, said:

“Creating high‑quality, sustainable homes is one of our core priorities at Nuplace. We’ve continued to support the Council’s low‑carbon ambitions by delivering properties that incorporate cutting‑edge, eco‑friendly technologies such as photovoltaic panels, EV charging points, air source heat pumps and heat‑recovery systems.

“At the same time, we remain committed to delivering accessible, well‑designed homes and revitalising underused spaces. By investing and bringing redundant space back into use, we’re helping to unlock stalled sites and ensure more people have access to safe, modern and energy‑efficient places to live.”