Praise for high quality affordable homes in Corby
The ‘can do’ attitude of development partners has led to high quality, affordable homes being delivered in the Corby area despite the worst housing recession in living history.
Representatives of Lagan Homes, Metropolitan Housing Partnership, the Homes & Communities Agency and Corby Borough Council came together at Long Meadow Walk in Little Stanion to celebrate the handover of 26 properties to Granta Housing Society.
John Lougher, managing director of Lagan Homes, praised the teamwork and positive attitude of all the partners involved, as well as suppliers and sub-contractors.
He said: “The economic climate could have made project participants cautious and defensive but there has been a real ‘can do’ attitude, for which I am really grateful. It has produced well designed, well built housing which will stand the test of time.”
Work at Long Meadow Walk first started in 2008 but was stalled by the housing recession. Lagan Homes began working with Metropolitan Housing Partnership in January 2009 and made a successful bid to the Homes & Communities Agency for Kickstart 1 funding.
“We recommenced building work on site in autumn 2009 and have now completed 26 units for Granta and sold nearly 20 of our own homes on the open market. We are happy that this represents good, sustainable development,” John added.
Receiving the 26 properties on behalf of Granta – part of the Metropolitan Housing Partnership – the housing society’s chairman Steve Lamb said: “We are very grateful to the Homes & Communities Agency for the funding which allowed a stalled scheme to proceed and to Lagan Homes for delivering much needed affordable housing.”
The Granta homes include properties for rent and also eight homes available through the ‘Rent to HomeBuy’ scheme, which allows tenants to rent from a housing association for up to five years at a reduced rate while they save money to buy a share of the home later.
At Long Meadow Walk, Lagan Homes also has a variety of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes for sale on the open market, with current prices from £109,950 to £184,950. Thanks to the HCA’s Kickstart funding a number of these properties are available through HomeBuy Direct, which allows eligible purchasers with a household income below £60,000 per annum to take out an equity loan for up to 30% of the initial purchase price.
The equity loan is jointly funded by Lagan Homes and the HCA and is interest free for the first five years. It means that a two-bedroom apartment costing £104,950 can be purchased for an initial outlay of only £73,465. The outstanding balance can be paid back when home owners have more funds available or when they come to resell.
Sue Blackman, sales director for Lagan Homes, commented: “HomeBuy Direct is a great way for first time buyers, especially those serving our community working in healthcare and the emergency services and who thought getting on the property ladder was a pipe dream, to purchase a brand new home for a fraction of the usual cost. We are the only developer within the Little Stanion consortium able to offer this valuable assistance.”
The new community of Little Stanion is situated alongside the A43 to the south east of Corby and includes meadows, ponds, playing fields and village greens, plus plans for a new primary school and village shops. It is next to the picturesque village of Stanion with its 13th century church tower and falls within the catchment area of the prestigious Corby Business Academy, which opened in 2008.
For details of properties available from Lagan Homes at Long Meadow Walk, visit the fully furnished five-bedroom show home, which is open daily 10am to 5pm.
