Stoll’s 34 new homes in Aldershot, Centenary Lodge, have been awarded the Best Affordable Housing Development award at the Inside Housing Development Awards; a prestigious award within the housing industry.
Centenary Lodge in Evelyn Avenue, Aldershot, was officially opened by housing charity Stoll’s Patron, HRH The Countess of Wessex, back in June. The scheme was built to address the lack of housing for former members of the Armed Forces. Centenary Lodge has 27 one-bedroom flats, five family homes and two fully accessible flats for disabled Veterans. Communal spaces form the heart of the building, with rooms for therapy and community activities, as well as landscaped gardens that wrap around the building.
Stoll chose to build new supported housing for Veterans in Aldershot following a piece of nationwide research Stoll commissioned that identified Aldershot as an area of high unmet need.
Army Veteran and Centenary Lodge resident Craig Wheatley talks about his new home: “My relationship ended and it left me homeless. I went into survival mode – I was living in a tent, in the woods. I’m now ready for the next step in my life and to move into my own flat. When I saw the property, I thought it was absolutely stunning. Without these services, I couldn’t give you an answer of where I’d be today.”
Every aspect of the scheme is designed to provide a therapeutic experience. It is situated on the edge of a nature reserve and surrounded by trees and extensive landscaping so tenants interact with the natural environment wherever they are in the building. The scheme also offers communal areas, allotments, IT facilities, support and activities.
Stoll Chief Executive Ed Tytherleigh, said: “We are thrilled to win this award and it’s a testament to the dedication, enthusiasm and hard work put in by everyone involved in the project that has helped to make it a truly special place for Veterans in need.
We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved at Centenary Lodge and the legacy will be to support hundreds of vulnerable Veterans in Aldershot.”
The awards were judged by experts from across the housing sector, with the winner announced at a ceremony in London on 29 November.
