COUNCIL houses are to be built in Warwick district for the first time in decades.
Warwick District Council adopted a new housing strategy last year to take advantage of new financial rules making it possible for local authorities to once again build council housing – and will soon be offering its first 21 new council homes of the 21st century.
The landmark scheme is located on Chase Meadow in Warwick and will include six two-bedroom homes for rent and 15 three-bedroom homes for shared ownership.
It will be the first time the council has offered shared ownership – an arrangement where the occupier buys a share of their home and pays a reduced rent to the council for the share they do not own.
The authority was unable to tell The Observer when the last council homes were built in the district – only confirming it was before the turn of the century.
But council chiefs are hoping the new homes will be the first of many, and will help tackle the housing crisis which is not only affecting the district, but the whole of Britain.
There are currently just over 5,500 council homes in the district with nearly 3,200 people on the waiting list for properties.
The Chase Meadow homes, which are set to be available from June, are being built by developers Taylor Wimpey and for the council.
The cost to the council is confidential “commercial information involving a third party” but the guide prices for the shared ownership homes – subject to final valuation – are £215,000 and £229,000.
People will be able to purchase an initial share of the property ranging from 25 up to 75 per cent with the opportunity of purchasing additional shares up to a 100 per cent if and when they want to.
More council housing is being built on the site of Fetherston Court – off Tachbrook Road in Leamington – where later this year the council will be starting work on a development of 81 properties including five bungalows, aimed at people aged 55 plus, which is set to be completed in 2016.
Council head of housing and property services, Andy Thompson, said: “I am delighted the council is providing new homes for residents of the district, including shared ownership homes for people on middle incomes who cannot afford to buy outright.
“We are also actively pursuing other initiatives so I hope that this will be the first of many new council housing schemes in the coming years.”
