A North Shropshire housing development aimed at helping people to remain in their community has been officially opened by Owen Paterson MP.
The Village Green scheme, at Hadnall, has been unveiled by Meres & Mosses Housing Association, and provides 12 new homes.
Ten of the new homes are part of the housing group’s Newbuild HomeBuy shared ownership scheme, with the remaining two being rented to tenants from the housing list.. (these are already tenanted – I don’t want to raise expectations?)
Shared ownership properties offer help to first-time buyers to get on the housing ladder by purchasing only half of the property, while the other half is rented from the housing association – helping to keep mortgage costs, including the deposit, at manageable levels.
Meres & Mosses Housing Association bought the completed properties from Galliers Homes Ltd and Mr Paterson officially marked their addition to Hadnall’s housing stock with a ceremony for dignitaries and other guests.
He said: “I get a steady stream of letters regarding housing in North Shropshire so I’m all in favour of new housing, particularly cleverly designed projects that are sympathetically designed to fit in with traditional villages.”
Two of the homes for rent are already occupied, with a third couple, Andy Davies, a Fireman and Kathryn Ludgate, a Nurse, currently finalising their shared ownership purchase. Andy said: “My family live locally so it’s a great opportunity for us to buy a share of an affordable home to get on the property ladder.”
The site is made up of two and three-bed homes, with shared ownership available from as little as £72,000 for a 50 per cent share, with a rent of £165 per month.
MMHA managing director, Jennie Barfoot, said: “It’s crucial to our communities to provide a way for local people to stay near their jobs and families, rather than being priced out of the area by the market. The homes at Village Green are an important part of that strategy and we will be adding other sites around the area on a rolling basis.”