Council sets out plans for 500 affordable new homes

A REPORT to be considered by senior councillors in Wakefield next week sets out plans to build more than 500 new affordable homes in the district by 2015.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Sep 2011, 11:11 BST

It proposes that eight council-owned sites are sold off to help achieve the project - although the report warns in the current climate they may not get the highest price.

A new affordable housing programme, supported by Government funding, has been developed in partnership with Wakefield and District Housing and three registered housing providers – Chevin, Riverside and Yorkshire Housing.

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Coun Denise Jeffery, the council’s deputy leader with responsibility for regeneration said: “We know there is a pressing need for more affordable homes in the district and we are drawing up plans to meet that need.

“To help achieve our aims, we are selling off eight council-owned sites and – while we may not get the highest price in the current climate – we will be enabling house building which will make a very positive contribution to the local economy, regenerating and improving neighbourhoods.”

She added: “We will not compromise on quality and we will continue to deliver well-designed estates with eco-friendly small, medium and larger sized homes to meet people’s needs. We are also encouraging our registered providers to work with communities to develop skills and training opportunities.”

Kevin Dodd, chief executive of Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) added: “WDH is looking to put an additional £50m of investment into the Wakefield district to meet the Council’s new homes ambitions.”

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Every new affordable home delivered through the council will generate an additional £350 through the Government’s New Homes Bonus – a total of £51,450 in addition to the £5.6m New Homes Bonus funding, over the same period, forecast to come into the district.

The report asks the council’s cabinet to approve selling eight council-owned sites at either £5,000 a unit or the current open market value and to approve the affordable housing programme for 2011-2015, when they meet on Tuesday.

Sites that could be sold off include land at Kirkbygate, Hemsworth, which has 26 units and Eagle Grove, Wakefield.

Related topics:WakefieldCouncilDenise JefferyHemsworth