Hammers unveil £400m Luton project

Hammers both past and present have unveiled plans for a £400million social housing project in Luton.

Current skipper Mark Noble, former Academy graduate Rio Ferdinand and former Hammer Bobby Zamora hope to build 1,300 homes on a 22-hectare site near Luton, in partnership with Bedford County Council.

Speaking to the Guardian, Noble said: “At first we were thinking 20, 30 homes, but then we realised that wouldn’t make a difference to anyone. We want to make a big difference in housing. We want to create something special,” Noble continued. “I moved seven times in four years in social housing in east London [as a kid]. We know what it feels like. We used to see the ‘no ball games’ signs everywhere. Our motto is to have a sign saying ‘all ball games allowed’.”

The project is being funded by Aviva investors, and the trio will present their project at a UK real estate conference next month, at London’s Olympia.