Eager Close: A New Chapter for Winshill, Honouring a Community Champion.
Trent & Dove has officially opened 'Eager Close,' a new housing development for over 55s in Winshill, named in loving memory of local champion Carol Eager. This collaborative project provides much-needed affordable homes while strengthening the community and celebrating Carol's tireless dedication.
By Tom Drysdale
Trent & Dove has officially unveiled its latest housing development in Winshill, fittingly named ‘Eager Close’. This special dedication honours Carol Eager, a beloved local community champion who tirelessly supported her neighbours, from working with charities to delivering essential food parcels. Carol sadly passed away in 2022 at the age of 61, surrounded by her family, after a brave battle with lung cancer.
People from the local area and wider community gathered at Eager Close in Winshill to remember Carol and witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which officially marked the opening of the development. The ribbon itself was green, a thoughtful choice chosen to reflect Carol’s deep commitment to her community. It also subtly nodded to her playful side – she was known for dressing up as the Grinch for children’s parties and events at the Winshill Neighbourhood Resource Centre.
Tailored Homes for Over 55s: Boosting Local Housing
Eager Close represents Trent & Dove’s newest housing project, specifically designed to cater for residents aged Over 55. The development comprises 16 two-bedroom bungalows, built on the site of a former haulage yard. These homes boast practical features such as level access showers, ensuring they are perfectly suited for older residents, wheelchair users, and individuals with limited mobility.
This thoughtful development also serves a dual purpose: it supports local, older residents in downsizing to more appropriate homes, while simultaneously helping to free up larger family homes for growing families. This strategic approach makes better use of existing housing stock and ultimately aims to strengthen communities, aligning perfectly with Trent & Dove's overarching mission: "Providing homes and services that enable people and communities to thrive."
The creation of Eager Close was a truly collaborative effort. Orbit invested a substantial £780,000 into the scheme, which included crucial funding from Voluntary Right to Buy receipts for the 12 rented homes. This vital partnership also involved Homes England, who provided a £260,000 grant that enabled Trent & Dove to offer four shared ownership homes.
Remembering Carol: A Lasting Legacy
Trent & Dove CEO Ursula Bennion expressed immense pride in the new development: “We are proud to name Eager Close in honour of Carol Eager, ensuring her memory lives on - not only within her family, but also in the hearts of the wider community and the residents who will call this place home. This development was made possible through a strong partnership between Trent & Dove, Homes England, and Orbit, whose generous support helped turn this vision into reality. The timing is especially significant, as the recent spending review has unlocked additional funding to create more affordable homes in the future.”
Carol's daughter, Dianne Dennis, shared how much her mother would have cherished being immortalised in a development bearing her name. “When they announced it would be called Eager Close, I couldn’t believe it. You never truly realise the impact someone has had on others until moments like this."
Dianne spoke fondly of her mother's tireless work: “Mum worked closely with Kim Smith at Winshill Neighbourhood Resource Centre for many years. She got involved in everything — always helping out and dressing up for events. She was a child at heart; people often said she was the female version of Peter Pan. She delivered food parcels for the centre, and would often go out of her way to support people who didn’t quite qualify but were clearly struggling. She always went above and beyond."
Beyond her community work, Carol was the bedrock of her family. “On top of all that, she cared full-time for my younger brother Aslam, who has disabilities, and also looked after my children while I worked night shifts to train as a midwife. Without her support, I couldn’t have done it.” Dianne concluded emotionally, “It’s been hard. She was the rock of our family.”
“She was also well known for helping to create the famous Poppy Man - made from knitted poppies crafted by members of the centre. Mum stitched them together into a figure which went on tour to places like Morrison’s.”
The ribbon was cut by Mayor of East Staffordshire Kim Smith – a close friend of Carol – alongside Ursula Bennion, Dianne Dennis, and Carol’s son, Aslam.
In a heartfelt and emotional speech during the opening, Mayor Smith shared, “Carol loved being a child, and just enjoying life. If you saw Carol, you saw Aslam, they were never apart. To have a street named after her, she would be absolutely overwhelmed with it. Every time I go past, it makes me think of Carol and what she would think about it.”
Modern Homes, Thoughtful Design, and Biodiversity
Each home at Eager Close is finished to a high standard, boasting a fitted kitchen with oven, hob, and extractor, a level access shower room, and carpets and flooring throughout. Patio doors open directly onto private, turfed rear gardens, offering residents their own outdoor space.
These homes are also built with energy efficiency in mind, featuring double glazing, comprehensive wall, roof, and floor insulation, and modern, energy-efficient boilers.
Trent & Dove also made a conscious effort to preserve the site’s natural environment. Existing trees and natural features have been retained wherever feasible, and the development thoughtfully incorporates bird and bat boxes, along with hedgehog-friendly garden access points, to support local biodiversity.
Eager Close not only tackles a local shortfall in available housing sites but also contributes to the wider need for affordable housing in this area. It's a fantastic step forward, helping young families remain rooted in their local area and allowing older residents to stay within their cherished community. This development truly helps ensure the continued vitality of Winshill for generations to come.
Have a positive community story to share? Email Tom Drysdale at tom.drysdale@burtonecho.co.uk, and we’ll do our best to bring it to life!
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