Housing and Planning Minister John Healey gave a boost to rural communities with proposals to give a special planning power to parish councils to build new affordable homes.
The proposals, to be consulted on this summer, will allow a limited number of affordable homes to be built in rural villages without the need for individual planning applications where the parish council backed the new homes.
Mr Healey wants to extend 'permitted development' rights so that a maximum of 10-15 new affordable homes could be built when parish councils have set out clear evidence and design expectations. This means decisions on how many homes are required, what they look like and where they are built would be taken locally by those who are closest to what local communities need and want.
New guidance on social housing allocations published by the Government in December has also strengthened the scope for local authorities to ensure that people living and working locally are given more priority for affordable housing in rural parishes.
England
Birmingham City Council
The City Council has started building family homes for sale side by side with those for social rent for the first time.
Local residents recently celebrated the handover of the first site at Egg Hill, Northfield to development company Kier, where 58 new homes will be built.
Other developers include Keep Moat and Lovells across sites in Northfield, Ladywood, Handsworth and Saltley. Homes for sale will be available in 2011/12.
These mixed tenure developments will present excellent housing choices for Birmingham's families. As part of the Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust, Phase 2, builders across eight sites have geared up to deliver 101 new, high quality, affordable homes for social rent, and an additional 63 homes for sale.
The new homes will showcase exceptional design, space standards and energy efficiency, reducing runni ng costs and energy bills for residents. All homes will also achieve high security standards, having met the stringent Secure by Design criteria.
The new family homes will be built on Council owned land, with a further investment of £5.4 million, which the Council has secured from the HCA.
Scotland
Dunedin Canmore Housing Association
The Association concluded the acquisition of a site for the development of 193 new affordable homes and 8 commercial units for small businesses. Construction will take 23 months and is due for completion in February 2012.
Thedevelopment will provide 115 homes for social rent, 39 for shared ownership and 39 are proposed for mid rent. The development has received the support of the City of Edinburgh Council who have awarded Dunedin Canmore Housing Association Grant of £11.58 million towards the development.
The homes will have heating and hot water provided by a gas powered communal heating system. Electricity will also be generated on site. The Association intends to provide a sustainable development and keep fuel bills as low as possible for occupiers.
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East Kilbride Consortium
A ground-cutting ceremony took place to celebrate the start of an affordable housing development that will see 151 new homes for rent provided in East Kilbride over the next 2 years.
The £20 million development is the result of an innovative consortium by East Kilbride Housing Association, Clyde Valley Housing Association and West of Scotland Housing Association.
Building on previous successful partnership in South Lanarkshire, in addition to economies of scale, the Consortium provides the financial strength to deliver this major new build programme at a time when public spending is severely constrained.
The development will be on three former Council sites with funding from Scottish Government Housing Association grant and housing association private finance.
A range of different house types will be provided from 2 apartment flats to larger family houses and amenity housing for older people, including seven full wheelchair units.
All the homes will meet the latest Energy Efficiency, Barrier Free Access and Housing for Varying Needs standards.
Security has not been overlooked as the designs will meet the guidance of Strathclyde Police' Secured by Design, and will gain accreditation on completion.
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Link Housing Association
In partnership with East Renfrewshire Council, Link HA has provided 41 brand new two and three bedroom apartments for rent in the centre of Barrhead.
The town of Barrhead is bucking the national trend with more current and planned regeneration, including redevelopment of the main shopping areas, a brand new integrated health and social care centre, a new town centre supermarket at the negotiation stage and a new college centre being developed close to the site of the new housing.
At an average rent of only £65-a-week, the Council and Link believe they are ideal for anyone looking for brand new and affordable accommodation.
