The Brewery Opening

The Brewery apartments official opening in Hambrook Street, Southsea, on Tuesday, November 21.

Transcript

00:00 in probably mid 2018 and when Ravelling was also in its infancy.

00:07 And it's fantastic to see something that started out as a bottling plant,

00:11 was used by the Scouts in the 70s onwards,

00:14 even a rifle range downstairs back in the day,

00:18 but a complete transformation of that building into what's here now.

00:22 17 flats, really proud of the fact that, as far as we know,

00:26 it's the only scheme in the whole area that's prioritised key worker housing,

00:31 which is really important to us because we need to attract those skills to the city.

00:37 We've got 13 two beds and four one beds here,

00:40 and one of the two beds and three of the one beds will be providing that affordable option for those key workers.

00:47 Brilliant that it's got all the environmental standards included,

00:51 such things as low carbon insulation,

00:53 really important and the communal air source heat pump system that's going to deliver affordable heating

01:00 and importantly sustainable heating and also hot water for the tenants.

01:04 And there's all sorts of gizmos and gadgets in there that will make them very liveable places

01:09 and provide a gap in the local housing market.

01:12 And that gap's the really important bit because it's vital that as a council,

01:17 we are building through our housing revenue account,

01:19 the work that James and his team do at PCC,

01:22 that we are delivering more council housing.

01:25 But it's not the only solution for solving the housing crisis.

01:29 In Portsmouth, historically, there's been very, very little private rented sector housing of this nature developed.

01:36 So in order to demonstrate to the housing market that you can do it in Portsmouth

01:41 and it is financially viable to do it in Portsmouth and there is demand for it,

01:46 that's the reason why this project was launched in the first place and we would like to do more of it.

01:52 I know because I've already had people contact me asking questions about it

01:56 that this is drawing attention from that PRS sector and that's a really good thing

02:02 because if we can see that kind of investment coming into our city

02:05 and taking up some of those opportunities,

02:08 it will enable us to not only deliver social housing and affordable housing

02:12 but private rented sector housing as well,

02:15 which is what we need more of for the next generation coming through.

02:18 So it's a great landmark project.

02:20 It was set up to disrupt the market.

02:21 I believe that's exactly what it will do.

02:24 And huge thanks to Kevin, Tom and the whole team, and particularly to Astia,

02:28 who stuck with it and delivered it on time and on budget.

02:31 Not an easy thing for a local authority and that's why our companies can be so beneficial.

02:36 [BLANK_AUDIO]