Mulberry Park, the pioneering housing scheme on Bath’s outskirts being developed by city-based Curo, has received its second visit from a government minister in a week.
Housing minister Gavin Barwell saw how local people are benefitting from skills and employment opportunities when he toured Mulberry Park, where housing association Curo is building 700 high-quality, energy-efficient homes – 30% affordable housing. 
There will also be a new primary school and nursery, a community hub, a park and public open spaces.
Curo is working with local partners to deliver training and jobs alongside new the much-needed homes.
Mr Barwell toured the site with Bath MP Ben Howlett and Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES) leader Tim Warren. His visit came after Mr Barwell’s boss, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid, described Curo’s work at Mulberry Park as impressive during a site tour last week.
Among those completing work placements and apprenticeships at Mulberry Park who met Mr Barwell were Nick Hoskins, who has just secured an apprenticeship with Gloucester-based carpentry contractor ProCarpentry, and Bradley Bush, who is on Curo’s graduate programme.
Curo is also providing accredited work placements through an innovative partnership with Bath College and local construction firms that gives participants the opportunity to get work experience while gaining an accredited qualification.
Curo is also creating apprenticeship opportunities at Mulberry Park and across its housing and support organisation. By 2020, Curo aims to deliver 100 work and educational placements, 70 jobs with training and 15 apprenticeships at Mulberry Park.
Mr Barwell said: “It’s been great to visit the Mulberry Park development – it reflects the ambitious vision set out in our Housing White Paper.
“Our lasting reforms will help to get more of the right homes built in the right places. This challenge cannot be met by government alone, so we want to work together with developers to deliver innovative housing developments. It’s all part of our plan to help make sure the housing market works for everyone.”
Curo chief executive Victor da Cunha said: “We’re proud to be delivering on our social mission here at Mulberry Park. Alongside the beautiful new homes, this development is making such a vital contribution to the local economy – with outstanding community facilities and beautiful open spaces and fantastic training and employment for residents.”
Bath MP Ben Howlett added: “I am delighted at the speed of progress in building new homes at Mulberry Park. We urgently need more houses here in Bath and I have been most impressed by Curo’s ability to bring this project forward.
“I was also delighted to meet the apprentices on site, and commend Curo on their investment in constructions skills which are again needed to ensure further infrastructure projects such as this can proceed here and elsewhere in the South West.”
Mulberry Park, alongside the proposed regeneration of the neighbouring Foxhill estate, was designated as a Housing Zone by the government in 2015. Last October B&NES Council approved a charter setting out its shared ambitions for the Housing Zone with Curo and the local community.
Mr da Cunha said: “The Foxhill Housing Zone is a scheme of national and local significance. The support we are receiving from the government and the council has been invaluable to create new homes and a long term sustainable future for Foxhill.”
Pictured: Housing minister Gavin Barwell, centre, with Curo graduate trainee Bradley Bush and carpentry apprentice Nick Hoskins
