The go-ahead's been given for grant funding for 64 new affordable homes to rent in South Lakeland.
South Lakeland District Council has given approval to help fund the new homes, at Skelwith Bridge, Grasmere, Coniston and Ambleside.
The cash - which will be given to local housing groups, will also be given to private landlords to develop accomodation in parts of Kendal and Windermere.
Tony Whittaker, SLDC's Housing Strategy & Delivery Manager, said: “Consideration was given to the award of grants to enable the construction of 64 new affordable homes. Some of the funds will be paid in 2015/16 and the remainder will be paid in 2016/17. All of the schemes had budget deficits and could only be progressed with the addition of the Council’s grant funding.”
SLDC says the Government’s policy to reduce social housing rents had resulted in the need for all new affordable rented scheme developments to be reappraised to take account of the reduced income - resulting in amendments to previously approved grant bids.
The grants listed below have been approved:
Housing Association and Community Land Trust grants:
(i) £40,000 to Skelwith and Langdale Community Land Trust for four affordable homes to rent at Skelwith Bridge. This is additional to the £39,000 grant
already approved;
(ii) £90,000 to Two Castles Housing Association for nine affordable homes to rent at Smithy Bridge, Grasmere. This is additional to the £90,000 grant
already approved;
(iii) £100,000 to Mitre Housing Assocation for ten affordable homes to rent at St Andrew’s Youth Centre, Coniston; and
(iv) £250,000 to Home Group for 24 affordable homes to rent and six affordable homes for shared ownership at Borrans Road, Ambleside.
Private Landlord grants:
(i) £160,000 to Edgehog Ltd for eight affordable homes to rent at Kirkland, Kendal;
(ii) £20,000 to Paul Taylor for one affordable home to rent at Hazel Street, Windermere;
(iii) £40,000 to Robert Hughes for two affordable homes to rent at Highgate, Kendal.
Cllr Heidi Halliday, portfolio holder for Housing and Strategic Development, said: “The Council Plan 2014-2019 identifies ‘Homes to meet need’ as a key priority. The 64 new homes will contribute towards this target to enable 1,000 new affordable homes between 2014 and 2025.”