Shaun Bennett, director of investment & maintenance for Derby Homes added: “Local Authority resources are very stretched at this time and this project wouldn’t have been given the green light if the Vaillant team had not offered its support to this initiative. We are delighted with the outcome and are working with the local community to ensure the improvements stand the test of time.”
Vaillant, the heating and hot water manufacturer, recently joined forces with Derby Homes and Derby City Council to clean up residential streets.
The initiative aimed to enhance engagement with residents and improve the street scene with a long term plan of improving the standards of housing in the city.
The programme saw staff volunteers from Vaillant, Derby City Council and Derby Homes join forces for the cleaning operation, which took place in Normanton. Teams focused on clearing waste and bulky items, giving the streets a deep clean by weeding and washing, as well as painting window sills and damp proof frontages. Play activities were provided throughout the two days for the local children, which included planting flowers in hanging baskets for their homes to complete the refreshed look and feel of the street.
Councillor Hussain officially opened the event saying: “Normanton is a very unique, culturally diverse part of Derby. It also has a high proportion of privately rented properties, which means there is less of a presence of Housing Associates and other social landlords in the area.
“My vision is to make Normanton as desirable a place to live as any other area in the city and a place people can be proud to call their home. To do this, we need to build relationships with both residents and landlords.”
As well as the initial clean up, neighbourhood officers were present with Derby Homes’ community van in the area to help encourage staff and residents to gather and chat about the work taking place and inspire the residents on how they can maintain the new tidy street scene.
Vaillant sales director - specification, Alice Woolley, said: “We have worked with Derby Homes for a number of years providing reliable and efficient boilers to their tenants. Our mission at Vaillant is to give something back to the communities we work with in social housing. This project was a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact in a community where there is a lack of clean, affordable and safe housing and we supported Derby Homes in their mission to provide this.”
Shaun Bennett, director of investment & maintenance for Derby Homes added: “Local Authority resources are very stretched at this time and this project wouldn’t have been given the green light if the 
Vaillant team had not offered its support to this initiative. We are delighted with the outcome and are working with the local community to ensure the improvements stand the test of time.”