Press Release

Semi-rural Essex location sees affordable homes development

10/8/2005
Ref: pr 0071

CHP are helping to tackle the lack of affordable housing with a new development of shared ownership and rented homes in Saffron Walden through Essex Development Partnership with Flagship Housing Group.

The £4.5m project will be unveiled to the public by Mayor of Saffron Walden, Dr Richard Freeman on 17th August. Twenty-four two-bed apartments and eleven two-bed houses have been built in a joint venture with CHP, Bovis Homes, and Flagship Housing Group. David Cotterill, New Business Director at CHP said about the new homes: "These new homes are a boost for the area. CHP is committed to providing new homes for rent and purchase throughout Essex for anyone in housing need. These are our first new homes to be completed in Uttlesford and it has been a pleasure to work in partnership with the District Council and Flagship Housing Group to achieve this. We hope this scheme will demonstrate what can be done and will create more opportunities in the future. Establishing effective partnerships with key developers, such as Bovis, proves to be highly successful in delivering affordable homes."

The thirty-five new homes in Thaxted, Saffron Walden, are well located in a beautiful market town with good facilities and links to the M11. Moat Housing Group is acting as Zone agents to nominate potential key-worker shared-owners.

"These homes have been built to Bovis Homes' high standards and are really impressive. We expect them to be in high demand," David continued. "Shared ownership is great for people who can't manage to get their foot on the commercial housing ladder. Offering them on a 50% buy: 50% rent arrangement is a winning solution and makes them more accessible than would normally be possible for those on lower incomes."

The Housing Corporation has provided almost £2m by way of subsidy to enable the new homes to meet the affordability criteria. The properties are built to the latest standards in terms of efficiencies for both initial construction and for residents.

Martin Aust, Business Growth Director at Flagship Housing Group said: "By combining Chelmer Housing Partnership's strength in local housing management with Flagship's expertise and track-record in development, we have achieved a win-win solution in the delivery of these much needed homes for local people in Essex."

ENDS

Editor's Notes:

• Established in May 2004, the EDP agreement has already secured four new affordable housing developments in Essex.
• The development partnership agreement with FHG enables opportunities for development of affordable homes in Essex to be progressed for CHP. FHG secure and progress developments of new affordable housing and CHP purchase the completed properties for future ownership and management.
• Contact: Victoria Norton on 01245 613111, 07709334403, or victoria.norton@chelmerhp.org.uk