The Blackfriars Urban Village planned at the heart of Hereford will create a new concept in city centre community living when work on the first homes starts in 2011.

The village of 1000 homes, a minimum 300 of them affordable, and closely linked to the historic city centre, is already attracting national attention as a blueprint for similar community led housing developments across the country, says Jonathan Bretherton, chief executive of ESG Herefordshire, the organisation set up by Herefordshire Council and Advantage West Midlands to bring a new vibrancy to the city centre.

News that the Sanctuary Housing Group based in Worcester, one of the UK’s leading social housing providers has been appointed by Herefordshire Council and ESG to manage the development of the new urban village will be welcomed by the 6000 people currently on housing waiting lists in the county.

Cllr John Jarvis, cabinet member for environment and strategic housing, said: “The plans for a new urban village are integral to our vision to re-energise Hereford. The building of a significant number of affordable homes, in a community in the heart of the city, will be attractive to younger people, who need to get their feet onto the housing ladder, and would like to live close to the shops and leisure facilities on offer in the centre of Hereford.”

Jonathan Bretherton said: “Blackfriars will be a ground breaking scheme, a community led development not one led by a private developer. Housing experts are watching its progress with interest. Importantly, it will not be a huge out of town estate, but an inner city community with all its associated shopping and leisure facilities and employment opportunities close to hand. It will create a new and more sustainable lifestyle, for those who choose to live there.”

He likened the concept to that of previous developments, such as Bourneville and Port Sunlight of the 19th century, but with a modern twist. “Working closely with our partners, Sanctuary we will be pushing the boundaries of modern housing development, creating a great sense of community for the families who will move into the Blackfriars Urban Village.”

Sanctuary will form a joint venture company with ESG to deliver the Blackfriars project, investing an initial £20m on land purchase, engaging consultants, architects and engineers to prepare the plans for the village, due to be completed by 2020 at a cost of some £280m.

Sanctury is an exempt charity, and will be responsible for the long term management and stewardship of Blackfriars Village, including its upkeep. The organisation will manage the construction of the 300 plus ‘affordable’ homes available to those on the housing waiting list for sale on a shared equity basis or to rent.

The remaining 700 homes will be built by private developers on allocated sites, closely supervised by ESG and Sanctuary to ensure the vision of a tightly knit, sustainable style community is achieved. There will also be some opportunities for self-build schemes.

The site of the new village will stretch from Merton Meadow, across Widemarsh and up to what is currently Jewsons builders merchant’s yard, with the new half mile link road running through it, forming part of the total of 100 acre ESG area. It will have direct pedestrian and cycle access to the city centre, the new retail quarter and to the public transport hub to be built at the rail station. To add to the sense of community by bringing workers into the area, offices will also be built, including a new divisional headquarters for West Mercia Police employing over 300 people.

David Bennett, Sanctuary’s Group Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to work with ESG and Herefordshire Council on this pioneering project and we look forward to helping them realise their vision for the area.

“Sanctuary has considerable experience of delivering major regeneration schemes on time and on budget, and we will work in close partnership with the community and other stakeholders to ensure that we create a safe, environmentally friendly and desirable neighbourhood”