New affordable homes in Coldean completed
A major development of 242 affordable homes in Coldean is now complete.
The new homes in Denman Place on Coldean Lane include 127 council-rented flats, 2 wheelchair accessible flats rented through Hyde and 113 shared ownership homes available through Hyde.
All the homes are built to accessible standards, with 3 fully wheelchair accessible rented flats in total.
The homes are a mix of one, 2 and 3 bedroom flats and designed to be highly energy efficient, to help keep energy bills low for residents.
The council homes are being let to people in housing need on the city’s housing register. Residents began moving in from January, with the final block of council homes being let now.
Hannah, one of the new tenants at Denman Place, said: “I am so very grateful to have been offered such a lovely secure home for my children, we now have somewhere to call home.”
The shared ownership homes are available through Hyde, and give first time buyers a more affordable way to own a home. Homeowners buy a minimum 30% share in their home and pay rent to Hyde for the remainder, with the chance to buy a bigger share over time.
Trees, shrubs and wildflowers are being planted as part of landscaping work around the new buildings, to provide attractive communal areas and encourage wildlife. Bat boxes are also being installed.
A woodland area is being created, with native shrubs including Hawthorn, Field Maple, Hazel and Holly. Oak and beech trees and disease-resistant elms are also being planted.
There’s also a permissible path through the development, providing joined-up access to the surrounding woodland.
Homes for Brighton & Hove
The development is the second project delivered through the council’s Homes for Brighton & Hove partnership with housing association, the Hyde Group.
Homes for Brighton & Hove was set up to provide much needed low-cost homes for people in the city and is an important part of the council’s ambitious programmes to build new council homes.
The partnership’s first project was completed at Clarendon Place, off Wellington Road, Portslade last year, providing 104 new homes. The Portslade development is made up of 49 council flats and 55 shared ownership flats.
State-of-the-art affordable homes
Councillor Gill Williams, chair of the Housing & New Homes Committee, said: “I came here 5 years ago when there was nothing but brambles and I’m absolutely thrilled and delighted to be standing here looking at these new state-of-the-art homes.
“It’s great to see families starting to move in. I’m sure anyone who lives here will be very happy.
“What I’m most proud of is seeing the residents in the social rented flats sitting alongside the shared ownership flats, enjoying exactly the same facilities in these lovely luxurious flats.
“Homes for Brighton & Hove is a great example of partnership working, allowing both organisations to pool their resources and expertise to deliver new, genuinely affordable housing for local people in the city.
“We are desperate for more affordable homes in the city and we now need to work harder and quicker to get more of these.”
Guy Slocombe, Hyde’s Chief Investment Officer, said: “We’re really proud of our partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council, which is an exemplar of how local authorities and housing associations can work together to deliver really good quality homes, cut housing waiting lists and provide families with a great start in life.
“Along with our Clarendon Place in Portslade, Homes for Brighton & Hove has delivered 346 affordable homes for people in the city in the past year or so, about half of them for council rent, providing homes for more than 1,200 people.”
