Legacy, Ferdinand’s regeneration company set up with Mark Noble of West Ham United and Bobby Zamora of Brighton & Hove Albion, has partnered with Central Bedfordshire Council to revitalise an area of Houghton Regis called Kingsland.
The pilot scheme, which Legacy said it aimed to roll out across the UK, will see the 22-hectare site benefit from new homes with a leading sports academy at its centre.
Rio Ferdinand, Chairman of Legacy, said: “We aim to help all young people develop to their full potential.
“My teammates and I have seen at first-hand the transformational effect that football can have on young lives.
“It transformed my life and I intend to use my platform to forge a legacy for young people everywhere.
“Legacy is building for people by responding to the needs of local communities and, by doing this across the UK, we will be building a brand and a long-term relationship with the people who live in our homes.”
Brandon Lewis, Housing and Planning Minister, added: “The Houghton Regis project that Legacy are announcing with Central Bedfordshire Council will show the way to creating vibrant communities, backed by private sector investment, and using new and innovative approaches to building new homes to buy and rent.”
The Kingsland project will see more than 1,000 new homes built with Legacy aiming to deliver more social and affordable housing than any other.
Rio added: “We aim to start on site in early 2017 and to be delivering the first of our high quality homes to a new generation of homemakers in Houghton Regis within a year of that date.
“Central Bedfordshire responded quickly to our request for sites, agreeing to work together to bring forward much-needed regeneration.
“The funding is in place via institutional and private equity, so we’re up and running.”
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