More than 130 much-needed affordable homes are once again to be included in a council-backed development in Battle.
At a meeting on Monday, July 29, Rother District Council gave its support to a new option for the Blackfriars site which would see affordable rented homes and properties for shared ownership back on the plans.
The affordable homes element of the development was removed from the scheme in November last year after increased costs made it unviable. But a redesign of the scheme, led by Rother DC Housing Company Ltd (RDCHC) and its Board of Directors, and the appointment of a new main contractor has improved the project’s finances considerably.
Cllr Rauri McCourt, the district council’s portfolio holder for housing, said: “We are delighted to support the reintroduction of affordable homes to this important scheme which will go some way to ease the housing shortage in the district and provide accommodation for families wanting to remain in the area.
“The Blackfriars site has been earmarked for housing for many years and it has taken a great deal of work to get to this point. I look forward to seeing the development progress and the community benefit from some much-needed, low carbon accommodation in the area that will maximise the use renewable energy technologies. It is a priority of the Government to increase the building of genuinely affordable homes- and it is our priority in Rother too.”
Richard Thomas, Chair of RDCHC, added: “The Company continues to deliver on its promise to the Rother Community, to deliver a scheme of 200 environmentally friendly homes, that will be cheaper to run. Of these 130 will be much needed affordable new homes, including rented properties for those on the housing waiting list and low-cost homeownership for young first-time buyers.
“The Board and I are very proud of what the company has achieved to date and cannot wait to get building. Contractors should be on site by January 2025. Huge thanks to all involved.”
Funding of £8.7 million from Homes England will help deliver a new road and establish utilities on the site. A bid for a further £8 million has been made by Rother District Council to enable the first part of the project to be completed by December 2024. Construction work is expected to begin in January 2025.
