22 August 2008
Boost for affordable housing in Wealden
Wealden District Council is helping to build 13 new affordable homes in the district through the sale of under-used land to a housing association.
"Our desire to build more affordable housing is being hit by the current down turn in the housing market," explains Councillor Dick Angel, Cabinet member for Affordable Housing. "Larger developments in Wealden include an element of at least 30 per cent affordable housing. But although planning permission has been granted, many of these schemes are not being built because of the credit crunch."
"Existing council housing stock has been depleted by years of right-to-buy legislation. As a local authority, we are no longer able to borrow huge sums of money to build new houses. Our best hope of helping housing associations to build affordable homes is by encouraging town and parish councils and members of the public to come forward with possible sites, and by selling housing associations any suitable land which we no longer need at a discounted rate. This helps to ensure their future rents can be at an affordable level."
Two of the sites make use of under-used car parking land at Campbell Close and Lealands Drive in Uckfield. These two schemes will lead to the creation of four three-bedroom houses and four two-bedroom flats.
The third scheme at Southmead Close, Mayfield, will lead to the building of three three-bedroom houses and two two-bedroom flats. Raglan Housing Association has obtained planning permission for the projects at all three sites.
A Housing Needs survey carried out in 2005 identified 410 residents in Uckfield who required affordable housing. There are 33 households currently on the Council's housing register seeking affordable housing to rent in Mayfield, of which 25 have a local connection.
