Wall have eyes

Simon Cowell, Ant ‘n’ Dec … um, Berkeley Homes. Yes, the developer has hopped onto the reality TV bandwagon in an attempt to attract recruits to the construction industry. Entitled Bricking It, its programme will follow 10 teenagers as they transform an empty shell into a luxury apartment in six months. If they manage it, they receive a share of £50,000 as well as a ready career path.

While I’m sure Berkeley is doing the Channel 4 show for only the loftiest of motives, it will also be a handy bit of PR: the programme is set at Berkeley’s Royal Arsenal development in south London, where homes are now on sale.

Season’s greetings

Not before time, Social Animal could be about to get 15 minutes of fame: one of my recent cartoons is to be used by Westminster council on its Christmas cards. The image – councillors warning Polish migrants against travelling to London (26 November, page 19) – tickled Angela Harvey, cabinet member for housing, so much she wants a framed copy for her wall as well. So if anyone else has a good anecdote and wants something similar, get in touch. I’m always happy to oblige, when it comes to a little gentle lampooning.

Excuse you

The prize for best excuse for not answering a parliamentary question has to go to housing minister Keith Hill. He was asked if he could list all the registered social landlords involved in providing and managing sites for Gypsies and Travellers. Not possible, said the minister. Why? Because the information “could only be provided at disproportionate cost”.

Given that Novas-Ouvertures is the well publicised sole RSL providing such sites, presumably the huge cost referred to is that of Hill’s dignity.

Sell, cell

Anyone fancy living in a prison cell? That’s the latest offer from developers in Liverpool. The Bridewell prison in Merseyside is now being marketed as suitable for housing. Developer Dears Brack says the building is ideal for bedsit accommodation.

But prospective buyers should be aware of its listed status, meaning limited changes can be made to its attractive design features. At least security won’t be an issue.

Who dares whinges

War is brewing in Credenhill, Herefordshire, after Stroudwater Redevelopment Partnership revealed plans for a 100-home scheme. Although some residents are keen, tempers flared when Stroudwater dropped the bombshell that a new access road would need to cut through a nearby estate.

The developers may want to think twice before picking a fight with the locals, though – the estate is on the doorstep of an SAS base.

A walking advertisement

Companies love to show off how socially responsible they are but PR stunts on this theme have reached a new low in the Netherlands. Dreamt up, bizarrely, by a group of nuns, a new scheme is inviting businesses to advertise on coats worn by homeless people.

But is it just Social Animal, or is the idea of companies gloating about their largesse on the back of deprived people a little crass? What’s next: “Child poverty, brought to you by Acme Carpets”?

Source

Housing Today