New Affordable Homes for Watchet
Summerfield's 'My Home' teams up with Magna Housing Association
Work is underway to build 33 new affordable homes to rent and buy in Watchet.
The development includes a £1.9 million scheme to build 15 new homes for rent at the site on Churchill Way, which will be managed by Magna West Somerset Housing Association (MWS). These homes have been funded by £1.26 million from MWS, £555,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency and £88,300 from West Somerset Council.
The remaining 18 will be for discounted sale – affordable housing sold at below market value through developers Summerfield Homes to people in housing need.
MWS director Tony Murray said: “We are pleased to be involved in this scheme, which will provide much-needed homes for local people.”
The rented homes comprise four two-bed-bungalows, six two-bed houses, three three-beds and two four-beds. Priority will be given initially to people who have a local connection to Watchet.
Said Mr Murray: “We will be targeting the bungalows at current MWS residents who would like to move to a smaller property. Through our ‘under occupancy’ scheme, prospective tenants would be freeing-up their larger property which could be used by a family.”
The new houses, which are due to be completed by the summer of 2012, are being built to level 3 of the government’s Code for Sustainable Homes and will have solar panels and enhanced insulation, making them highly energy efficient.
Richard Nicol, of Summerfield Homes, said: “The Summerfield ‘My Home’ brand provides a unique solution for those wanting to get on to the housing ladder – new homes at an affordable price with no shared equity or rent to pay. We’ve already had a fantastic amount of interest in these new homes and we are hoping that a view home will be ready next month.”
Ian Timms, group manager for housing and community at West Somerset Council, said: “Watchet has a recognised need for affordable homes for local people to rent or buy, so we are delighted to be supporting this project. Thirty three new affordable homes is a significant development for West Somerset, and the project’s success is due to the hard work and commitment of the housing partnership, working with communities to try to meet local residents’ housing needs.”
Watchet Town Council’s chair, Councillor Sally de Renzy-Martin, said: “The provision of additional rented and affordable properties in Watchet is very welcome, particularly if they help to free-up larger houses which are in short supply throughout the district. I am very pleased to note the inclusion of solar panels on these properties. Hopefully, this will be the norm with all new builds in the very near future.”