South Cambridgeshire District Council and partners have delivered 22 new build Council homes across the district, further increasing the number of homes that are genuinely affordable for local people to live in.
Over the last three weeks, development partners Matthew Homes have completed 12 properties in Swavesey, which are a mixture of affordable rent and shared ownership houses and apartments, and eight properties in Waterbeach, which comprise of affordable rent and shared ownership houses and maisonettes. Developers Enterprise Property Group Ltd (EPGL) have also delivered two affordable rent houses in Meldreth, with a further five affordable rent and shared ownership houses to be handed-over in the coming weeks.
All properties are built to a high specification with high levels of insulation and double-glazed windows to help reduce monthly costs of keeping the homes warm as winter approaches. Every house and maisonette can also easily be adapted to install EV charging points in the future with external electric sockets installed at houses in Swavesey and Meldreth, and underground cabling to individual parking bays in Waterbeach.
All properties in Waterbeach and Swavesey have their own individual gardens, provided with sheds. The affordable rent apartments in Swavesey also come with water butts. The two-bed affordable rent houses in Meldreth have large rear gardens with a shed, and further green space and trees to the front and side of the properties which will belong to the tenants.
Affordable rent is capped at no more than 80% of the local market rent, including service charges where applicable. All properties have been marketed to people with a local connection to the villages in the first instance, before then being opened up in stages across the district.
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr John Batchelor, said: “These new modern properties are changing the image and perception of Council or social housing. Each property is carefully designed to ensure they are energy efficient to help our tenants minimise their bills, while also being bright and spacious.”
Keith Awbery, Construction Director at EPGL, commented: “As a national developer building high quality bespoke properties, we pride ourselves in also providing high quality affordable housing to local communities. Having worked with the team at South Cambridgeshire District Council over several developments with the latest development at Meldreth, we continue to build our strong and valued relationship with them for the future.”
Daniel Gallagher, Sales Director at Matthew Homes, said: “It’s always a pleasure working with South Cambridgeshire District Council. We wish nothing but happiness to the new residents of our new homes in Swavesey and Waterbeach and look forward to working with the Council again in the future.”
One of the District Councillors for Melbourn, Cllr Jose Hales, commented: “The standard of build for the new homes is extremely high. That, combined with the lovely outdoor space, will make these properties very sought after.”
One of the District Councillors for Waterbeach, Cllr Anna Bradnam, added: “These new homes in Waterbeach are well appointed, well insulated, make good use of space and should be affordable to live in.”
District Councillor for Swavesey, Cllr Sue Ellington, said: “It is great to have low-cost housing for young and older people who have strong connections with the village.”
South Cambridgeshire District Council owns and maintains around 5,500 Council homes. The Council will have further new build properties in the villages of Sawston, Great Abington and Melbourn which will become available over the coming months. You can apply for housing at www.scambs.gov.uk/housing/apply-for-housing/.