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2009
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February 2009
> Housing Group vows to build hundreds of affordable homes
Staffordshire based Moorlands Housing Association, a member of Harvest Housing Group, is joining forces with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council with the aim to provide high quality affordable housing for residents to either buy or rent. Together, their aim is to build 100 new affordable homes a year, for at least 5 years, introducing new jobs to the area during the construction process.
Additionally, there are also plans to build extra care housing that will create permanent jobs in the future in providing care for residents.
The principles of the initiative were agreed last month (January) by the two parties, paving the way for the development of financial and delivery plans to be endorsed by Harvest Housing Group’s governing board and the Council’s cabinet. Initially they propose to develop sites that they already own, with the possibility of buying other sites and properties in the future.
The partners have already identified 57 sites suitable for development of approximately 620 units in total. The two sites chosen to spearhead the project are the former council depot in Allen Street, Cheadle, and Moorlands Housing’s former garage site in Thorncliffe View, Leek.
Commenting on the development, Steve Barker, Senior Development Officer for Moorlands said:
“We recognise the necessity for more affordable homes, especially for families and first time buyers, and are committed to the cause. We are delighted to be working alongside one of our key partners, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, on a major initiative that will deliver real benefit to residents of the area. Together we are committed to making a difference for the people of Staffordshire”.
In order to ensure that the homes built will offer a flexibility of tenure to customers, the partnership will look to the newly formed Housing and Communities Agency for funding towards its set-up costs. Therefore, as well as building homes for rent some of the new housing will be for sale, either outright or through a shared ownership scheme.