First new council house tenant in 20 years toasts new home

Tenants have now moved into the first new council homes in Leeds for 20 years.

Faye Musgrave is one of the first to move into the new council housing on the Oaklands Estate in Gipton.

A single mother with four children, Faye works as an NHS secretary at St James’ Hospital. Speaking this week, she praised the quality of the properties and the support she has received to bid for and move in to her new home.

Also moved in are Tony Burrows and Dawn Hodgeson, who with their two children have been on the council housing waiting list for eight years. They would not normally have been considered for these new council homes, but because of the ‘local lettings policy’ they were favoured as local applicants who are working.

These are the first council new-build properties made available as part of Leeds City Council’s East and North East Leeds (EASEL) initiative.

The initial five three-bedroom family houses have been built on Oaklands Drive in Gipton. A further five family homes will be available as council tenancies in Seacroft on the Parklands estate before the summer.

Funding for the development has come from the Homes and Communities Agency's (HCA) and Leeds City Council. The let was arranged and will be supported by East North East Homes Leeds (ENEHL), one of the city’s three Arms Length Management Organisations that manage and maintain the city’s council housing stock.

Building work will be finished on a further 63 council homes in Gipton by March 2011, which will also be made available at affordable rents.

ENEHL created a local lettings policy to make sure the new homes are assigned for local people and preference is given to those who are key workers. The houses are advertised through the council’s Choice Based Lettings magazine. People who are registered on the council housing waiting list can then express an interest in the property when it is advertised as available.

All the homes will meet the highest environmental standards which will mean fuel costs and energy bills will be low for residents.

Councillor Les Carter, Leeds City Council’s executive board member for housing, said: “It’s superb to see people already settling in to the new council housing on the Oaklands Estate – the first new council homes in Leeds for over 20 years.

“We’ve had to change council housing for the 21st Century, making sure it’s not just the kind of housing people need but it’s the kind they want to live in too.

“I’m delighted that we’ve talked to Faye, who’s had support from the council and East North East Homes Leeds to find and move in to her new house. I hope she’ll be very happy.

"I'm also pleased that the council has been able to put up funds for this project.

“Because of the tough conditions we’ve faced due to the recession we’ve had to be innovative to drive on with EASEL and ensure we’re not just supplying good quality housing but also other regeneration works that will change the face of east Leeds."

Angelena Fixter, chair of the East North East Homes Leeds board said: “This is fantastic result for local families, great news for the local community and a huge achievement for Leeds in offering the first new council properties for 20 years.

“ENEHL are delighted to be able to work in partnership to help deliver these new homes at an affordable rent for key workers that will have lasting benefits on our neighbourhoods.”