Affordable housing boost celebrated

12.12.41pm GMT Thu 6th Mar 2008

A boost in affordable homes in the borough has been celebrated by Richmond Council following the completion of a development in Ham.

The scheme, comprising 16 homes for low-cost rent, has been realised following a close partnership between the Council, Thames Valley Housing Association and the builders, Taylor Wimpey. The flats are in Butler Farm Close off Craig Road, and the tenants were nominated by the Council. The scheme provides homes for single people, couples and families and was part funded by a Housing Corporation Social Housing Grant of £1.2 million.

Richmond Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, Cllr Denise Carr, said: "Providing affordable homes is among the Council's key aims and this particular scheme is an excellent example of how this goal is being achieved. There has been close working with key partners and the resulting development is superb: spacious, contemporary in design, and set in a beautiful location. The best news is that the homes are affordable, with tenants paying less than half the full market rent. We are delighted to have played our part in bringing this excellent scheme to reality. The Council's housing services staff recently received the maximum four out of four score by the Audit Commission and we are determined that, via schemes such as this, we will maintain these standards in the future."