Housing Minister visits new Shipley homes scheme
Minister for Housing, Esther McVey has made a fact-finding visit to one of Incommunities’ flagship developments.
The minister joined Shipley MP, Philip Davies on a tour around Salts Mews (9th October), a mixed tenure scheme of 11 family-sized houses which have proved a big hit with local homehunters.
Four of the homes were released for shared ownership, four for outright sale and the remaining three offered through the Government’s Rent to Buy scheme.
The development next to Saltaire Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been supported by Bradford Council and Homes England, with the national regeneration agency providing £224,000 in grant towards its construction.
The homes are part of two developments on cleared fire station sites given to Incommunities in a ‘land swap’ with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. Another 11 affordable homes have been completed at a former station site in Idle, North Bradford.
Minister of Housing, Esther McVey said: "It’s been wonderful to see how Incommunities has transformed this local site into attractive, high quality and affordable homes.
"The homes have been carefully designed to complement the neighbouring homes of historic Saltaire and provide the right sort of homes that meet local need and offer choice, whether that’s homes for rent, to buy or shared ownership."
Philip Davies MP said: "It is vital that social housing providers like Incommunities, developers and Councils work together to increase the supply of high quality homes for local people on brownfield sites.
"I would like to commend Geraldine and her team on delivering this development, which provides a mix of tenures to help people onto the property ladder."
Geraldine Howley, Incommunities Group Chief Executive, said: "We were delighted to welcome the Housing Minister, Esther McVey and local MP, Philip Davies to see this flagship development.
"As a group we are on track to deliver 250 affordable homes over the next two years and over 1000 homes by 2025. Our in-house development team continue to work hard to develop exciting partnerships with local housebuilders which offer people real choice whilst increasing the housing supply across the district."