Lord-Lieutenant praises Waverley's new affordable homes supporting community growth at Ockford Ridge

Michael More-Molyneux, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, visited Ockford Ridge in Godalming on Friday 13 September to see firsthand how Waverley Borough Council is upgrading homes for the benefit of the local community and future generations.
 
The Lord-Lieutenant is His Majesty The King’s representative in Surrey, and he was welcomed to Ockford Ridge by Councillor Paul Rivers, The Mayor of Godalming and Waverley Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Housing (Operations and Services), along with the Deputy Mayor of Waverley, Councillor Penny Rivers, officers from the council’s Housing Development Team and representatives from contractors working on the programme.

Ockford Ridge is one of the council’s most important housing projects, delivering a multi-million-pound investment into modern homes that cater for the specific needs of local residents. The council has worked closely alongside the community to ensure new and refurbished homes are delivered through ongoing conversation, consultation and engagement.

Sustainability is a key feature in all the new and refurbished homes at Ockford Ridge. The Lord-Lieutenant was shown around one of the seven homes retained on the estate that have undergone extensive refurbishment and installation of new green technology.
 
The ‘deep retrofit’ houses have solar panels on the roof producing renewable energy to help power the homes. The properties are extremely well insulated, with new A++ rated double glazed windows and doors also helping to keep the heat in and the cold out. Reliance on fossil fuels is reduced through the use of air source heat pumps instead of gas boilers, and collectively the energy efficiency measures should help residents save money on heating bills.
 
Providing good quality housing for people of all income levels is one of the key strategic priorities for Waverley Borough Council and Ockford Ridge is a prime example of how careful investment can transform the lives of residents and promote stable, inclusive communities.
 
The Lord-Lieutenant was introduced to some of the Ockford Ridge residents who shared their stories in the council’s Keeping Memories Alive film. The film illustrates how Ockford Ridge has changed over the years, and how these new homes have made a real difference to people's lives. The standard of living on offer to residents has dramatically improved, with tenants in the new-build properties benefiting from much more space, a warmer environment and homes that are ready for modern lifestyles, with features like electric vehicle charging points.

Councillor Paul Rivers said:
 
“It was an honour to meet the Lord-Lieutenant and a privilege to share with him the amazing work our Housing Development Team is doing to improve these homes for our residents.
 
“People of all income levels deserve to have a safe and secure home, and it is great to see firsthand how the wonderful social and affordable housing we are delivering at Ockford Ridge is providing that for new and existing residents.
 
“I’d like to thank the residents who joined us to meet with the Lord-Lieutenant for sharing their experiences with us. Hearing how happy people are in their new homes, makes everything worthwhile, and will inspire us to continue providing much needed housing improvements for our residents who most need them.”

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