WYCHAVON District Council will build its first homes in decades in a ground-breaking £4.5million development with Rooftop Housing Group.
The council has agreed to fund the construction of 23 homes on land it owns at Laurels Avenue in Offenham, for private market, affordable rent and shared ownership.
Residents can view the plans for the scheme and find out more on Monday, February 12 at Offenham Village Hall. A planning application could then be submitted by March.
High quality, energy-efficient homes are the aim of the scheme in an area with some of the highest rental and house prices in the country.
The project will see the homes built in partnership with Rooftop. Rooftop will lease and manage the private rental, generating a return on the council’s investment for the taxpayer. The affordable homes will be bought outright by Rooftop.
Council chiefs looked into creating its own housing company to deliver the scheme. However it has decided working with a registered housing provider is more efficient and lowers the risk to the taxpayer.
In 1994 Wychavon transferred its housing stock to Evesham and Pershore Housing Association. It then changed its named to Rooftop Housing Association.
Coun Rick Deller, Executive Board Member for Housing and Regulatory Services on Wychavon District Council, said:
“This is an exciting and innovative new way of working with one of our social housing providers.
“Not only will it deliver a return for the taxpayer, but crucially it will allow us to use our land and resources to directly increase the supply of housing to help meet rising local demand.”
Boris Worrall, Rooftop Housing Group Chief Executive, added:
“We are delighted to be able to help Wychavon District Council provide a range of homes for local people through this ground-breaking initiative.
“There is significant demand across the district for a range of homes that are affordable, and we are committed to doing all we can in partnership with the council to address housing need and aspiration.”
Visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/laurels-avenue for more information.
