Larkfleet Starts Work On Oakham Affordable Housing

Larkfleet Homes (www.larkfleethomes.co.uk) has started work on building 17 ‘affordable’ homes at Barleythorpe, near Oakham – including two homes specially designed for people with disabilities.

The development consists of a range of two, three and four bedroom houses and two bedroom apartments. All are being built for Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) (www.ncha.org.uk) and will be available for low-cost renting or for “Rent to Homebuy”, whereby people can rent their homes for up to five years before converting to a part-purchase-giving an opportunity for people who would otherwise not be able to afford to buy a home to get onto the property ladder.

The two homes designed for people with disabilities include features such as wide doors to give wheelchair access, low level light switches, special bathrooms, integrated accommodation for carers and parking close to the units with space for vehicles that are adapted for wheelchair users. The units have been designed for ease of conversion to general-needs housing at a later date if required.

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes, said: “We are delighted to be working with NCHA and Rutland County Council to provide more affordable housing in Oakham.”

Larkfleet Homes is part of the Larkfleet Group (www.LarkfleetGroup.co.uk) – based in Bourne, Lincolnshire, near Peterborough – which also includes property development company Hawksmead (www.hawksmead.co.uk).

Hawksmead is the company behind plans for Oakham North, a new development which could provide up to 300 affordable homes as part of a 1,000 home expansion of the town. It would also include new shopping facilities, offices, parks and open spaces, children’s play areas and a new local centre on land between the existing town and the new bypass.

Catherine Hewitt of NCHA said: “The 17 new homes at Barleythorpe will be a welcome addition to the housing stock in Oakham, allowing local people who are otherwise being priced out of the town to find a home there.”

Some of the funding for the new homes has come from the government’s Homes and Communities Agency and additional money for the specialist housing has come from Rutland County Council.

Roger Begy, Leader and Housing Portfolio Holder for Rutland County Council, added: “Increasing the supply of affordable housing in Rutland and helping people with specialist housing needs to live independently in the community are two of our key objectives. We are delighted that NCHA and Larkfleet have agreed to work with us to provide these new homes in Barleythorpe.”

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