Date issued: 21 July 2023
Colchester City Council has agreed plans to acquire new-build affordable homes, as part of its ongoing commitment to providing more housing for local people.
At a meeting on 12 July, Cabinet approved the acquisition of four completed off-the-shelf units directly from the developer of the Chesterwell site, within the Mile End ward. The homes will include four one-bedroom maisonettes, with two of the ground-floor properties being fully wheelchair accessible. In addition, the homes will meet the council's high standards for quality and energy efficiency and will be ready to let shortly after the units are acquired.
Cabinet members also approved the sale of a property at 106/106a Shrub End Road, which will be used to help fund the acquisition of two more family homes. The acquisitions are part of the Council's wider strategy to deliver 350 new affordable homes over the next five years. The Council has already made significant progress on this target, with over 241 new affordable homes already delivered.
Cllr Paul Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “We are committed to providing affordable housing for all, and this latest acquisition is a clear demonstration of our commitment.
“We will continue to work hard to deliver more homes for local people, and we are confident that this latest acquisition will help us to achieve our target of 350 new affordable homes over the next five years.
“The new homes will provide much-needed safe and affordable accommodation for local people at a time when the cost of living has become even more restrictive.
“Acquiring these four new-build properties while selling a property that we have had for many years but couldn’t develop ourselves is also a good deal for the taxpayer. And by buying off-the-shelf homes, we can avoid the delays and uncertainty associated with traditional development methods. This will allow us to get more homes built faster, which is essential in meeting the growing demand for affordable housing.”
The council expects to complete the acquisitions in the coming months.
Colchester City Council has agreed plans to acquire new-build affordable homes, as part of its ongoing commitment to providing more housing for local people.
At a meeting on 12 July, Cabinet approved the acquisition of four completed off-the-shelf units directly from the developer of the Chesterwell site, within the Mile End ward. The homes will include four one-bedroom maisonettes, with two of the ground-floor properties being fully wheelchair accessible. In addition, the homes will meet the council's high standards for quality and energy efficiency and will be ready to let shortly after the units are acquired.
Cabinet members also approved the sale of a property at 106/106a Shrub End Road, which will be used to help fund the acquisition of two more family homes. The acquisitions are part of the Council's wider strategy to deliver 350 new affordable homes over the next five years. The Council has already made significant progress on this target, with over 241 new affordable homes already delivered.
Cllr Paul Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “We are committed to providing affordable housing for all, and this latest acquisition is a clear demonstration of our commitment.
“We will continue to work hard to deliver more homes for local people, and we are confident that this latest acquisition will help us to achieve our target of 350 new affordable homes over the next five years.
“The new homes will provide much-needed safe and affordable accommodation for local people at a time when the cost of living has become even more restrictive.
“Acquiring these four new-build properties while selling a property that we have had for many years but couldn’t develop ourselves is also a good deal for the taxpayer. And by buying off-the-shelf homes, we can avoid the delays and uncertainty associated with traditional development methods. This will allow us to get more homes built faster, which is essential in meeting the growing demand for affordable housing.”
The council expects to complete the acquisitions in the coming months.
Page last reviewed: 21 July 2023