The partners behind a new development in Station Road, Willingham, met this week to mark the start on site of affordable homes.
Lindum is working with Cross Keys Homes to deliver 22 new homes, which will be available for shared ownership and affordable rent from spring 2019.
Claire Higgins, Chief Executive of Cross Keys Homes, said: “People living in rural communities like this need affordable options when it comes to finding a home for their future. We have an ambitious development programme which is seeing us build more homes than ever before because the demand for affordable homes to both rent and buy is so high in our region.
“We hope this development in Willingham will help to give more people the option to stay in the place they love, close to friends and family.”
With support from South Cambridgeshire District Council, the new homes will be reserved for those with a local connection to Willingham in the first instance to allow local residents a better chance of getting on the housing ladder or staying close to family in an affordable rented home.
Cllr Bridget Smith, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “I have been very clear that increasing the number of homes that are genuinely affordable for people to live in is one of our top priorities, so work starting on these 22 new homes is brilliant news.
“It means people with a local connection to Willingham will have a better chance of setting up homes in their own community, near to family and friends, in the place they’ve grown up and may work. This is an excellent example of local partners coming together to build homes that are needed, where they are needed and I’m looking forward to seeing the first residents move in and making the homes their own next spring.”
Cross Keys secured £525,000 grant funding from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and a further £206,000 grant from Homes England to support the delivery of affordable homes and shorten housing waiting lists in the area.
Mayor James Palmer of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, said: “From day one as Mayor, one of my priorities has been to accelerate the delivery of much needed affordable homes right across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
“Whether it be through schemes like this one in Willingham, community land trusts such as at Haddenham or unlocking much larger housing projects, we are tackling this urgent issue head-on, with the right solutions, with the right partners, in the right places.”
Lindum Peterborough MD, Mick Papworth, said he was proud to be involved in a project that was helping to tackle the shortfall of good quality, affordable homes in Cambridgeshire.
“It is really satisfying to see the local authority and Homes England supporting this development.
“Lindum worked on the project from the very start and was delighted to be able to provide Cross Keys Homes with a suitable site for the homes. So far, the project is progressing well.”
Cross Keys Homes’ Executive Director of Finance, Michael Heekin was joined on site by:
Mick Papworth, Managing Director of Lindum Peterborough
Freddie Chambers, Director of Lindum
Mayor James Palmer of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority
Councillor Bridget Smith Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council
Councillor Hazel Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing, South Cambs District Council
Councillor Bill Handley, Local Member for Over and Willingham, South Cambs District Council
Councillor Harris, Willingham Parish Council
Chris Callaghan, Managing Director of Kingswater Lindum
Darren Heffer and Anna Broadbent, Saunders Boston Architects
Richard Lowe, Contracts Manager, and Steve Brundell, Site Manager, Lindum
Azhar Ahmed, Senior Development Manager, Cross Keys Homes
