Hightown Housing Association has welcomed Georgia and her four-year-old daughter to its 7,000th home at its new affordable housing development on the former Oaklands College site in St Albans.
Georgia, who had been living locally with her family, had been on the St Albans City and District Council housing list and was excited to move into her new two-bedroom house. Georgia works at nearby Oaklands College so she is familiar with the area and will not have far to travel to work.
Georgia viewed the property remotely by video due to the Coronavirus pandemic and was happy with the new build home, the location and having parking right outside her property. Georgia’s daughter has been equally excited to move in and is keen to add some rainbow-themed accessories to her bedroom.
The Oaklands Grange development is situated just off Sandpit Lane in the Marshalswick area of St. Albans and close to local shops and amenities. House prices in St Albans average £563,152 (compared to the average in England of £306,487*) so affordable housing at sub-market rates is very welcome to people on lower incomes who wish to stay in the area.
Georgia said: “I’m really grateful to the housing team at Hightown for guiding me through the start of my first tenancy and answering all my questions. It’s made the process a positive experience. My daughter’s been so excited to move in and to get settled into her new bedroom. We are delighted to have a place of our own.”
David Bogle, Chief Executive of Hightown Housing Association commented: ”Hightown’s roots are in west Hertfordshire so it is fitting that we should reach the 7,000 home mark here in St. Albans. The need for affordable housing to house local people and key workers who are priced out of the market is greater than ever. We have plans to build over 1,000 new affordable homes in the next two years across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire but more needs to be done nationally to end the housing and homelessness crisis.”
*Source ONS HPSSA Dataset 27 (Mean, all dwellings) Year to end Dec 2019 (England figure from dataset 12)
