Hightown Housing Association and East Herts District Council have unveiled the first completed homes at a new development in Buntingford.
The nine new social rent properties and four shared ownership homes were officially opened earlier this week at Hare Street Road, and will be made available to residents of East Herts.
The wider development will deliver a total of 34 new homes, eight of which will be for shared ownership and 26 for social rent.
Included in the total are four wheelchair-accessible bungalows prioritised for people with assessed mobility needs, three of which were unveiled at the recent opening, officiated by East Herts Council’s executive member for Neighbourhoods, Peter Boylan.
The event was also attended by Cllr Jeff Jones, district councillor for Buntingford; officers from East Herts Council; David Bogle, Hightown Housing Association’s chief executive; and representatives from Wheatley, the contractor involved in the building of the new development.
The new social rent homes will be allocated to people in housing need who have been nominated by East Herts Council.
This is the first phase of affordable homes on the development, with a further 17 social rent and four shared ownership homes due for completion in February and July 2023.
In total, there will be 86 homes on the development, with the remaining 52 homes for private sale by Wheatley.
Ageing population in Buntingford
David Bogle, chief executive at Hightown Housing Association, said: “It has been a pleasure working alongside East Herts Council and the building contractor Wheatley to deliver these high-quality homes for local people.
“I’m delighted that the development includes social rent homes to help residents who have been priced out of renting or buying on the market.”
Cllr Peter Boylan, executive member for Neighbourhoods at East Herts Council, said: “I’m delighted to officially mark the opening of the first phase of this new development that delivers a total of 86 brand-new homes in Buntingford.
“The development demonstrates that the council is delivering it ambitious new housing strategy, and I’m particularly pleased that as well as eight homes for shared ownership, there are 26 homes with social rents, including four much-needed wheelchair accessible bungalows.
“Buntingford has one of the fastest growing populations for people aged 60 and over.
“The rents for these homes will be set at social rent level, which is around 50% to 60% of full market rent, making them very accessible and affordable for households in their later years.
“The shared ownership homes also offer an excellent affordable option for young people who wish to get on the housing ladder with their first home.”
Hightown Housing Association Limited is a charitable housing association operating principally in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire.
Hightown currently manages over 8,000 homes, with plans to deliver over 1,000 new affordable homes over the next two years.
Image: Some of the new homes unveiled at Hightown’s Buntingford development
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