Funding allows more affordable homes for rent in Hemel Hempstead
14.09.2007
Local people looking to find an affordable home to rent have received a boost after a new development of 12 affordable homes has received additional funding from the Housing Corporation.
The recently completed new homes are located in Candlefield Road in Bennetts End and comprise of six 2-bed houses and six 2-bed duplex (two-storey) apartments. The development received a grant of £420,000 from the Housing Corporation.
The new affordable homes are owned and managed by local housing association, Hightown Praetorian & Churches (HPCHA) and are available for rent to people nominated by the local authority.
The new development, which used to be a garage site, has been named Claymill Mews and is one of six sites in the Bennett’s End and Leverstock Green area that have been built as part of Phase 3 of the Dacorum Partnership.
The Dacorum Partnership was formed in 1997 to redevelop disused garage sites into affordable homes. The partnership is made up of Dacorum Borough Council, HPCHA, Jarvis Group Ltd, architects Johnson & Partners and surveyors Robert Martell & Partners. Under the scheme garage sites and small areas of council owned land are transferred to HPCHA to develop the new homes. Thirty-nine homes were delivered in phase 1 & 2 and 50 homes have been built under the current phase.
David Bogle Chief Executive of HPCHA said: “I am delighted that we have received a grant from the Housing Corporation allowing us to supply another 12 much needed affordable homes to people living in the local area.
“This site has been completed to the highest quality and I am pleased that local people who have a real housing need will benefit from this scheme.
“This scheme will not only benefit the new residents but will have a positive impact on the surrounding area and neighbouring residents. The former garage site, along with the other garage sites we are developing, became very run down and incidents of anti social behaviour and vandalism were a real issue for the local residents and police. The new homes remove the opportunity for crime and help regenerate the whole area.”
HPCHA is a local Housing Association founded 40 years ago in Hemel Hempstead and is one of the largest suppliers of affordable housing in Dacorum for both homes for rent and for sale under the shared ownership scheme. By the end of 2008 the association will have over 1,000 affordable homes in Dacorum.
Councillor Margaret Griffiths, the Dacorum Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Housing, also expressed her support for the scheme, saying “We know that there is a very high demand for affordable, rented housing in Hemel Hempstead. As a Council, we are very pleased that this development will enable us to offer new homes to 12 families on our waiting list.”
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