Twenty-two new affordable family homes in Upton Dene, Chester, have been praised by City of Chester MP Chris Matheson on a visit to the properties.
The Labour MP visited the Upton Dene site on Liverpool Road to celebrate the completion of Weaver Vale Housing Trust’s first homes in the city.
The Trust has taken ownership of 11 flats and family homes for affordable rent and 11 three-bedroom homes for shared ownership sale at the site. The 22 affordable homes form part of a wider Morris Homes development consisting of 74 new homes being built in this phase.
The homes are part the Trusts’ commitment to deliver 800 new affordable homes by 2026 across Cheshire and Warrington.
With properties in Upton fetching an average of £307,969 over the last year*, the shared ownership homes’ starting price of £209,000 for a three-bed terrace will add much-needed affordable living to the area. Shares of between 25% and 75% will be available, so much lower deposits will be required than standard sale homes.
Jo Fallon, Assistant Director of Development at Weaver Vale said: “Chester is a beautiful and desirable place to live. The earlier than expected addition of these new homes will be welcome, as they crucially increase the number of affordable houses in the area.”
Weaver Vale partnered with developer Morris Homes on the scheme. Upton Dene is now the fourth collaboration between the two Cheshire-based organisations, who share missions to foster local communities and create high-spec homes.
The homes available for sale will be managed by Prospa Homes, the shared ownership branch of Weaver Vale Housing Trust.
Jo added: “The homes at Upton Dene offer a fantastic opportunity for local people to get onto the property ladder and secure a home in their city, knowing they deliver on excellent quality at an accessible price.
“Building high-quality new homes is key to the Trust’s wider commitment of building back fairer as we contribute to tackling significant inequalities in our area.”
City of Chester MP, Chris Matheson, said: “It was a pleasure to visit Upton Dene and to see the huge progress that has been made. As we face a national housing crisis, genuinely affordable homes have never been more important, and I commend the work that has been done to deliver these properties in Chester.
“There is a real community feel at Upton Dene, and I know this will be a positive addition to the city. Thank you very much to Weaver Vale for taking the time to show me around.”
WVHT, Chris Matheson MP, City of Chester (centre), Annette Dennett, Senior Development Project Manager, and Wayne Gales, Chief Executive of Weaver Vale Housing Trust.
*Source: Rightmove, June 2022 rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/upton.html Details correct at time of publication.
