Developer to deliver 1,000 affordable homes in the East

Published by Julien Tremblin for 24dash.com in Local Government and also in Housing

A social housing developer is set to deliver a total of 1,000 new affordable homes in the East of England through a £123 million development programme.

Iceni Homes is expected to complete the homes in Essex, Suffolk and Cambridge between April 2011 and March 2015.

Iceni’s three affordable housing partners – Colne Housing Society, Suffolk Housing Society and Hundred Houses – will meet their plans to increase their stock of affordable homes by between 15 and 20 per cent over that period.

The homes will be a mix of family-sized homes and apartments at affordable rent as well as shared ownership homes.

The £123 million programme was made possible thanks to a partnership between the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and partner local authorities. A total of £21 million part of which was funded from the HCA’s 2008-11 previous affordable homes programme.

Iceni’s Managing Director, Mike Goodson, says: “This is a fantastic result for Iceni, its partners and for the region.  It means that more people should have the chance to live in a high quality home that they can afford and this will make a significant difference to local communities.

“It presents Iceni with the opportunity to continue to provide a diverse range of much-needed homes and projects in partnership with the HCA and our Local Authority partners in these challenging economic times.”

One of Iceni’s new developments at The Cambridge Fire Station site is already under construction and will provide 39 new affordable homes.

Mr Goodson adds: “Our partners’ investment in new affordable homes will also help to protect jobs in the east of England’s building and construction sectors and will hopefully assist in creating that much- needed new growth in the region through to 2015.”