Regeneration Plans to Provide New Homes
Homes in Sedgemoor are delighted to report that work has begun building 14 new affordable rental homes in Bridgwater. The £4.2m investment by Sedgemoor District Council will not only provide much needed new homes but will breathe new life on four redundant council owned former lock-up garage sites in the Sydenham area of the town. The new homes will be managed by Homes in Sedgemoor.
Despite the economic challenges associated with building homes at this time, this multi-million-pound investment goes ahead and will ultimately provide high-quality new homes for people who find themselves priced out of the local housing market.
Homes in Sedgemoor are noticing that demand for garages has dropped and many of the garage sites are underused and surplus to requirements and no longer needed for its original purpose.
With the demand for genuinely affordable housing on the increase, projects such as this involving building homes on the brownfield unused sites and recycling already owned land is a key part of the future Homes in Sedgemoor housing development plans. These plans will also see underused and neglected areas revitalised, whilst removing the risk and issues associated such unused parcels of land. This project has already provided funds towards the Council’s refurbishment of the Chamberlin Avenue play area adjoining one of the sites.
The developments will deliver 14 highly efficient new homes, in four small pockets, including a home designed to meet the needs of a family with a specific housing need. The sites include two off Avalon Road, one off Saxon Green and on off Chamberlin Avenue. As well as demolishing the existing garages and safely disposing of the asbestos used in their construction, a single one-bedroom bungalow will be demolished off Avalon Road to improve access to the new homes.
Duncan Harvey, Homes in Sedgemoor’s housing development manager, said: “Homes in Sedgemoor are committed to supporting the Council build a new generation of high specification, modern thermally efficient homes which help us play our part in tackling the ever-increasing demand for affordable homes. Once built, not only will the homes be affordable in terms of their rent, but affordable to run for the new residents.
“These homes have been designed to be future proofed, allowing for the flexibility to have households with individual circumstances – having varying adaptations to allow for wheelchairs, ground floor wet rooms and through floor lifts.”
The Sedgemoor District Council Housing Development Team led by Mr Harvey has now transferred to Homes in Sedgemoor, and will continue to work closely with the council on future plans.
Sedgemoor District Council will pay for the new homes on all four sites through its new build capital programme and through loans, to be repaid through future rental income from the houses. The new homes are being built by Rigg Construction, using a timber frame method. Homes in Sedgemoor hope the first of these new homes will be available for new residents as early as October 2023.