New council homes 'major step' towards New Forest target of 600
THE near-completion of more than 50 council homes has been hailed by the New Forest’s housing chief as a “major step” towards the target of delivering 600 by 2026.
The almost £7m pair of developments in Totton are mostly finished and some properties have already being occupied by people allocated from the district council’s housing list.
The sites were recently visited by Cllr Jill Cleary, NFDC’s cabinet member for housing, who said they were a sign of “real progress” in meeting the accommodation needs of the area where locals complain of young people being priced out.
The biggest of the two projects is a £4m set of 35 flats completed in Blackwater Drive – named Brook Court and Bartley Court – which NFDC said was its largest new-build project for around 25 years.
The second scheme is in Calmore Drive, where 20 homes are being built on the former Stocklands care home after a land swap with Hampshire County Council.
Last year NFDC’s Conservative administration pledged to build 600 new council homes by 2026, using rental income from its stock of more than 5,000 properties.
NFDC said that including units built the year before, 110 have been delivered plus homes purchased to replace those lost under the right to buy scheme. There are currently more than 3,000 on the housing list.
Cllr Cleary said: “These two schemes are providing urgently needed homes for rent and, as part of our housing strategy, we have plans to deliver shared-ownership properties in the future, making provision for those who would like to buy a property but can’t afford to do so.
“Providing more affordable homes for local people is one of this council’s key priorities. The completion of the 35 new council homes at Brook and Bartley Court, as well as the 20 on the Stocklands site due to be finished over the summer, marks an acceleration in our council house building programme.
“We are now making real progress towards addressing the district’s affordable housing shortage, by providing a range of housing options that are affordable and sustainable.
“In addition to the 55 homes on these two sites, since 2017 we have provided a further 55 new council homes, as well as buying properties to replace those lost through Right to Buy.
“We have provided temporary accommodation for people who have found themselves homeless; and we are working with developers and housing associations to ensure that good quality affordable housing is provided in a range of tenures including social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership.”
Recently moved-in couple Irene and Harold Cooper showed Cllr Cleary around their one-bedroom flat in Brook Court. Mrs Cooper said: “We have really settled in, the neighbours are lovely. We are thrilled to bits with our new home."
The Blackwater Drive scheme comprises nine two-bedroom flats and 26 one-bedroom and is being built by Brymor Construction Ltd next to an existing set of council homes.
The Calmore Drive properties are made up of 10 one-bedroom flats, five two-bedroom and five three-bed-room semi-detached houses. They are being built by PMC Construction and Development Services and were part-funded by a £800,000 grant from Homes England.
