600 new Plymouth homes on council owned sites (From Mid Devon Star)

600 new Plymouth homes on council owned sites

7:00am Friday 22nd February 2013 in News

More affordable homes will be built in Plymouth after the City Council agreed deals for the development of 10 council owned sites.

The sites are being sold for housing schemes that will deliver more than 600 new homes including more than 250 affordable homes, says the council, with a mixture of homes for sale and rent.

It is claimed the scheme will support more than 200 jobs in the city’s construction sector and in associated businesses.

Councillor Mark Lowry, cabinet member for finance, said: “We desperately need more affordable housing in the city. With such high house prices and low average wages it’s incredibly difficult for first time buyers to get on the housing ladder without the help of the ‘bank of mum and dad’ and that’s just not an option open to many.

“This Get Plymouth Building scheme will massively increase the amount of affordable housing to rent and buy and these houses will be built to high standards so they’re more energy efficient and cheaper to heat, helping reduce the large number of people living in fuel poverty.”

Average house prices in Plymouth are around £161,937. In Plymouth an income of at least £28,000 is needed to buy a two bed property, plus a deposit, but average wages are low. A mid range salary is £23,600 with 20 per cent of people earning less than £15,933.

It’s estimated there are approximately 14,000 households living in fuel poverty where they have to spend more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel bills, ie gas and electricity.

Councillor Lowry added, “I'm delighted to say we had a lot of interest in these sites from large organisations and smaller construction companies. Now we have signed the deals with the developers and I look forward to seeing work begin on the schemes as soon as possible.”

Delivering these affordable homes will secure £4 million in government grant.

The Get Plymouth Building programme is also part of the Council’s Plan for Jobs which aims to create more than 2,000 jobs over the next two years. The programme is unlocking the land for development and supporting job creation both directly in construction and indirectly in the supply chain of businesses. There are also wider economic benefits of new housing developments in terms of helping to attract skilled people and boosting inward investment.

The 10 sites of Council land are: Former Ernesettle community centre, Extra care housing for older people 40 units, Aster Housing Association Former West Park Primary School, 45 homes, Linden Homes Former Southway Primary School, 140 homes and the re-provision of sports pitches and changing rooms, Plymouth Community Homes Former Woodlands and Hillside School, 70 homes, Sanctuary Housing Association Former Tamerton Vale School, 90 homes, Galliford Try/Devon and Cornwall Housing Association Former Astor Centre, 12 homes,AJM Building Design/Oakley