New energy-efficient affordable homes for Buckland Newton residents

A number of Buckland Newtonresidents are enjoying 2024 from the comfort of their new affordable home thanks to Wimborne based housing association, East Boro Housing Trust (EBHT), part of the Aster Group.  

Located in Brookfields Meadow, the four new affordable homes comprising  two, two-bedroom and two, three-bedroom semi-detached houses, provide much needed new accommodation in the village. Fitted with air source heat pumps to generate heating and hot water, the residents will also benefit from better energy efficiency while lowering their carbon footprint.

Two of the homes will be available to rent on an affordable basis by local residents or those with a strong connection to the area. The remaining two houses which were available to purchase by local residents through shared ownership have already been snapped up.

Shared ownership is a secure alternative to private renting providing an affordable way onto - or back onto - the housing ladder. Buyers purchase a share of a property and pay rent on the remaining share. This reduces the size of the initial deposit required and if they want to, purchasers can buy more shares in their property (known as staircasing), eventually leading to outright home ownership.

Commenting on the new homes, East Boro Chief Executive, Kevin Hodder, said: “The severe lack of homes to both buy and rent in Buckland Newton is really impacting the local community, with increasing prices pushing locals out of the area.

“The average price of houses sold last year was nearly half a million pounds[1], so against these tough buying and rental conditions our affordable homes are going to make the biggest difference to local residents looking to either rent or affordably buy in the village. We’re really pleased to be able to develop small groups of affordable homes in villages within Dorset for the benefit of the local communities”.

Dorset Council contributed £60,000 funding towards the homes. Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Health & Housing, Councillor Jane Somper said, “It’s great to see this scheme and how this makes it possible for families to afford to live in good quality homes and stay in the local area.

“By reducing the running costs and addressing the sustainability of these homes, residents can feel confident about living in a suitable home for as long as they need to be there. This is so important, and I applaud the commitment of East Boro to Dorset and to local people’s needs.”

East Boro worked with local developer Sambec Property Development Ltd who built the new homes in Brookfields Meadow. The rented homes will be managed by East Boro, and the shared ownership homes will be managed by Aster Group.

For further information and to apply for the rental homes visit https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/housing/housing.

[1] House Prices in Buckland Newton (rightmove.co.uk)