Thursday 12 July 2007
Next stage in affordable housing boost

More affordable homes are on their way at a Northamptonshire housing scheme to help local families priced out of the property market.

The next phase of building at Mawsley village, a settlement of 900 homes being built near Kettering, will include 33 properties for affordable rent and shared ownership.

Work on the homes, being provided by housing association bpha, has now started. The homes will help local people who are unable to afford the full cost of buying a home in the area.

Recent figures from the Land Registry show that the average house price in Northamptonshire is now £174,510 - more than seven times the county's average salary of £24,141.

bpha has so far provided 47 new homes at Mawsley, and will eventually provide 125 homes when the development is completed.

The next phase of homes will comprise two and three-bedroom houses as well as bungalows for the elderly, which will all be completed by early 2008.

The mix of homes has been agreed in consultation with Kettering Borough Council to help meet local housing needs. Before the start of each phase, bpha has also worked closely with residents to agree the design of the homes.

David Keeling, executive director of development at bpha, said: "Mawsley is a high-quality housing development and we are proud to be providing so many affordable homes to meet local needs.

"The latest homes will be offered at affordable rents to those on the waiting list and also through shared ownership, to help people to get a foot on the property ladder."

The shared ownership scheme, known as New Build HomeBuy, is designed to help those on low incomes including existing housing association tenants, those on housing waiting lists and some first-time buyers.

Last year bpha, which as the HomeBuy agent for Northamptonshire is responsible for marketing all low cost home ownership schemes in the county, held an official opening for homes in the first two phases.

As part of the celebrations bpha made a donation to Mawsley Parish Council to help pay for new play equipment.

For more information about the affordable homes at Mawsley village and to find out more about shared ownership, contact Keyhomes East, bpha's sales and marketing team, on 0845 4566757 or visit www.keyhomes-east.org.uk