Centenarian villager Arthur Beaumont will be ‘cutting the ribbon’ at an opening ceremony of a new affordable housing development named in his honour.
Later this week (April 18) Mr Beaumont – along with other invited guests – will have the chance to see inside the finished homes at Tawneys Ride, Bures St Mary, for the first time.
The newly-named Beaumont Close is a result of Babergh District Council working closely with Bures St Mary Parish Council and Orwell Housing Association after a need for more affordable housing in the village was identified.
All of the properties, built on land donated to the project at a 100 per cent discount from Babergh, will now be available for affordable rent to people with a connection to the village.
As part of its commitment to affordable housing, Babergh carried out a survey of all council-owned properties to make sure they were still viable and using land as efficiently as possible.
Two bungalows in Bures with severe subsidence were demolished and, as a result, nine homes – one, two-bedroom bungalow, two, three-bedroom houses and six, two bedroom houses – were built in their place.
Babergh has pledged to have built – or have in the development pipeline – 700 new, affordable homes in the district by 2009/10.
Ian Tippett, Babergh’s Housing Services Team Manager, said: “Babergh is putting a high priority on delivering affordable housing in the district and we are delighted with the new development at Beaumont Close.
“We know that local people and our local communities need, and want, these developments – and that is vitally important to us.
“We would be delighted for parish councils with similar problems, who feel they have identified a need for low-cost housing in their area, to approach us and we can work on proposals to help.”
Stephen Javes, Chief Executive of Orwell Housing Association, said: “We are very pleased to be able to assist the village to provide these much-needed homes and to contribute towards the sustainability of this thriving rural community.
“With the donation of land from Babergh District Council and its commitment to increasing the provision of affordable housing in the district, the result is an example of good quality homes for Orwell and the parish to be proud of.” ENDS
More information about Affordable Housing.
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