A new state-of-the-art social housing development in Trafford will be named in honour of one of the borough’s most popular and longest-serving councillors.
Work has started on the Trafford Housing Trust and Trafford Council project that will see 30 units – 20 one-beds and 10 two-beds – being built in a three-storey development at Carrfield Avenue in Timperley.
The development, the first to be built from the Trafford Affordable Housing Fund which was set up to support the building of social housing, will be named Bowker Court in tribute to Cllr Ray Bowker, who died aged 83 in January.
Lifelong Timperley resident and former Mayor Cllr Bowker, who was first elected to the Charter Council of Trafford in 1973, was heavily involved in the Carrfield Avenue project from its beginnings.
Cllr Bowker, who was awarded the MBE in 2002 for a lifetime of service to the community, was also chairman of governors at the nearby Broomwood Primary School and a huge supporter of social housing. Cllr Bowker was Trafford’s mayor during the millennium year and raised more than £71,000 for two local charities – Trafford Young Carers Project and Trafford Crossroads – during his time as civic leader.
Cllr Bowker’s wife Hazel said:
I am so proud that this new housing block is to be named after Ray - it is a really lovely tribute to him and he would have been overjoyed. Ray was extremely passionate about social housing and was involved in this particular scheme from the very start. He loved Trafford, particularly Timperley, and always wanted to help people so this development was very important to him. Thank you very much to everyone involved.”
Larry Gold, Chief Executive of Trafford Housing Trust, said:
Ray was a huge advocate of this development, taking time to talk to residents during public consultations about the advantages he felt it would bring to this part of Timperley. He was a former board member of Trafford Housing Trust and – as chair of governors at Broomwood Primary School – a real force for good in the community. We are proud to be naming this new development in his honour.”
Trafford Council Leader, Cllr Andrew Western, said:
Ray was a superb Councillor and public servant who gave nearly 50 years of his life to his community. He was a huge supporter of social housing and it is only fitting that this development should be named after him. These are the first new social housing units built in Trafford for over a decade and we’re very proud that they have been funded from the council’s Affordable Housing Fund.
The scheme will go some way to meeting the demand for social housing in Trafford and will provide people with attractive properties in a great location. Trafford, like many other areas, desperately needs new homes that people can afford to live in. Timperley is also a much sought after location with numerous selling points. Thank you for all the hard work from officers and members at the council and colleagues from the Housing Trust.
The 30 units at Bowker Court are for social rent and are being built by contractor Mears New Homes on behalf of Trafford Housing Trust and Trafford Council. The work is due to be completed in November 2021.
Posted on Thursday 2nd July 2020