A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening of 23 affordable new Stonewater homes near Siddington village. The new rental and shared ownership properties, which have been financed by social housing provider Stonewater, are part of a 55-home development by Bloor Homes, named The Gateway.
Pictured above from left to right are Anwen Huges, Cotswold Dstrict Council Housing Enabling Officer; Matthew Crucefix, Stonewater Regional Development Manager; Cllr Sue Jepson, Cotswold Disrict Council Cabinet Member for Housing; Cllr Shaun Parson, Cotswold District Council and James Bradbury, Head of Development at Stonewater.
Working together with Cotswold District Council and Bloor Homes, Stonewater has provided a mix of six one-bedroom apartments and 12 two-, three- and four-bedroom houses for affordable rent at the development. There are a further five two- and three-bedroom houses for shared ownership which have already sold.
The smart new Stonewater houses are all equipped with gardens and parking provision. Each of the new homes has been built to a Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 equivalent standard which measures energy-efficiency and helps residents keep their running costs to a minimum.
Located just a 10-minute walk from the centre of Siddington village, the new development will benefit from a children’s play area in the centre. A large public open space — nearly half the size of the development —affo has been created to the south of the scheme, featuring extensive landscaping and an orchard.
“With average local house prices at around reaching £382,000* – which is almost 50% higher than the regional average – and market rents almost 14 times the average local wage (£27,976), many young families and key workers are finding themselves priced-out of the area,” said Jonathan Layzell, Stonewater’s Executive Director for Development. “We’ve had a lot of interest in these new Stonewater homes. All five shared ownership properties have already been snapped up, showing just how urgently affordable housing is needed in this desirable and expensive location.
“We look forward to delivering more affordable housing in the District where it is needed most.”
Stonewater also owns and manages 327 homes in the District and is currently constructing Keble Fields, a new development in Fairford which will provide 40 homes for affordable rent and 20 for shared ownership.
Paula Gwilliam, Senior Sales Manager at Bloor Homes Western, added: “We are delighted to be providing 23 affordable homes as part of our development at The Gateway. The development has proved extremely popular with buyers and all 28 private houses have now been sold.
“As well as delivering much-needed quality new homes for the town, we have contributed more than £30,000 towards improvements at Siddington Village Hall and more then £10,000 to improve library services as part of a planning agreement with Cotswold District Council.”
Cllr Sue Jepson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, commented: “We are very pleased to work with Stonewater and other housing providers so we can help ensure that more affordable homes for local people are being built in the Cotswolds. We hope to continue this successful partnership with the aim of providing more affordable homes where they are most needed across the District.”
*Home Truths 2016/17 — National Housing Federation: the average house cost being almost 50% higher than the regional average.
