South Kesteven District Council has announced its biggest investment in social housing in a generation in a £6.5m deal to help replace council housing sold to tenants under the Government Right to Buy legislation.
The Council has exchanged contracts to purchase 36 newly built homes for people on its housing register to help mitigate the loss of more than 40 homes a year as a result of Right to Buy.
The new homes are part of a development off Swinstead Road, Corby Glen, and will be paid for and built in seven phases up to June 2028. They range from one bedroom apartments to four bedroom family homes and have been secured by the Council to make the best use of funds.
Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, Cllr Phil Dilks, said: “The number of houses we can rent to those most in need has been falling year on year at the same time as the demand is rising.
“We are determined to do what we can to mitigate average loss of more than 40 homes a year to Right to Buy so we can continue providing decent housing for those most in need.
“We have adopted a hybrid flexible approach to acquiring replacement homes by building on sites we already own as well as negotiating with house builders to buy off-plan, particularly where registered housing providers are unable to secure funding to purchase the ‘affordable’ homes on major developments that have to be agreed as a condition of planning permission.
“We are also in discussions with house builders on further sites in the District, which are all moving in a positive direction.
“The Corby Glen new-build housing will all be allocated to people on the Council’s housing register when they are completed and handed over.”
SKDC has also acquired 21 properties as part of the Local Authority Housing Fund tranche 1 and a further eight properties are being purchased around the Bourne area for a second tranche of the LAHF money. These properties were specifically to house Ukrainian and Afghans as part of central government scheme.
In addition, the Council is using Section 106 developer contribution money to buy a fully adapted bungalow in the Market Deeping area, where a number of people require specific types of properties. The property team is looking at acquiring further properties to meet these needs.
Progress on SKDC’s own new-builds includes:
- Swinegate, Grantham: Demolition and site preparation under way for 20 new homes
- Elizabeth Road, Stamford: All four units due for completion in August 2024
- Larch Close, Grantham: work due to start in September on 21 units
- Wellington Way, Market Deeping: Planning process under way for 14 new homes
- Gorse Rise, Grantham: Six units at design stage
- Kesteven Road, Stamford: Discussions under way for a 14-unit build
- Bourne End Road, Colsterworth: Potential nine-unit scheme
The Corporate Plan 2024-27 sets out how SKDC will meet the mission “to ensure that all residents can access housing which is safe, good quality, sustainable and suitable for their needs and future generations.”
Housing is a key priority with high quality housing essential for all, and the Council is committed to working with partners to provide this by working with developers and private landlords to ensure sustainable, affordable, and high-quality housing.