Babergh to build first houses for 20 years

Babergh is to build new social housing for the first time in 20 years.

Following changes made by Government in recent years to the way that the funding of housing activity is organised, councils now have much more flexibility in the area of housing provision.  They can, for example, borrow against their housing stock and thus initiate the building of new properties. This was not possible in the past.  In addition at present the Government is offering grants to councils in order to further stimulate the construction of houses for those who cannot afford to buy their own homes outright.

Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils, in partnership with Havebury Housing Association, were recently successful in securing £1million from the Government’s Affordable Homes Project.    A proportion of this money will enable Babergh to build some 27 new homes for those on the housing waiting list. 38 houses will be built in Mid Suffolk.

I am not yet certain where the houses will be built, but hope that a proportion will be in rural areas in order to give young people the option of living in the countryside, and to keep our villages and their facilities alive.