First New Council Homes For 20 Years Are Completed

Published on: 28 Nov, 2014
Updated on: 28 Nov, 2014

The first new council homes to be built in the borough of Guildford for over 20 years are now complete.

Pictured from left: Cllr Sarah Creedy, Sue Sturgeon, Philip O’Dwyer, Rachel Dawson from Guildford Borough Council, and Richard Allison, Hill Partnerships.

The three, three-bed, homes at Wyke Avenue in Normandy welcomed their new tenants this week.

Cllr Sarah Creedy, lead councillor for housing and social welfare at GBC said: “We are proud of our progress towards our target of providing 80 new council homes by 2016.

“We are the first council in Surrey to take advantage of the change in how social housing is financed, enabling us to directly deliver new homes for local residents. More homes are needed and we will continue to work with our partners in addressing this need, but this is a significant first step to meet the needs of our community.

“Our draft housing strategy, which we are currently consulting on, sets out our plans to provide more affordable homes.”

Another 62 homes on two other developments are due for completion in 2015. They are: 35 homes for affordable rent in Lakeside Close, Ash and 27 homes for affordable rent in New Road, Gomshall. The latter will replace nine prefabricated homes, and seven bungalows that were previously on the site.

The site will include seven two-bed houses, 10 three-bed houses and two one-bed bungalows, along with four two-bed bungalows and four one-bed flats.

GBC is currently consulting on its draft housing strategy for the next five years. The strategy sets out our plans for affordable housing and how we intend to achieve them, together with how we will seek to improve housing conditions across all sectors.

Some residents, housing providers and other interested parties have already given valuable input to the consultation. Residents are encouraged to fill in the online survey at www.guildford.gov.uk/housingstrategy. The closing date is December 16.

Responses to First New Council Homes For 20 Years Are Completed

Jim Allen Reply

November 29, 2014 at 9:27 am

Excellent – far better than the ‘country life’ style ‘low cost homes’ provided at a cost of £1.15 million in Burpham.
Sue Fox Reply

December 1, 2014 at 1:57 pm

It’s a start, however I’m aware of empty houses around. It would be good to get these up and running as social housing even if it requires compulsory purchase – much cheaper than starting from scratch!
The council is sure going to have to go some to meet its targets!