An £11.5 million 49-home estate of affordable homes for local people was visited by the area’s MP.
Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, visited the Sedbergh site with Gail Teasdale, chief executive of Broadacres and Cath Purdy, chief executive of South Lakes Housing, to see how the housing development was coming along.
Mr Farron spent time meeting the teams behind the development and discussed the issues which are impacting rural housing and the policies for ensuring more affordable homes can be built for local people to help sustain communities.
Mr Farron said: “Sedbergh is a vibrant community but like many places in the Lakes and Dales, it is under pressure because of the lack of affordable housing for local people
“This scheme gives us real hope for the future and the partnership between Broadacres and South Lakes should be applauded and is a good example of how housing associations can work in partnership to preserve local communities.”
Ms Teasdale added, “With people living in Sedbergh and the surrounding communities being given first refusal on these properties, this development will play an important part in ensuring this part of rural Cumbria remains sustainable for future generations.
“And because all the homes will be built to high energy efficient standards and have air source heat pumps, the people living in them will benefit from needing less energy to stay warm which, given the current cost of living crisis and the impact of climate change, is so important.”
Ms Purdy said: “We’re delighted to have been able to welcome Tim to view the progress being made in delivering these much-needed affordable homes for Sedbergh. These new homes will help to address a key local housing need and create high-quality homes that are energy-efficient, ensuring that they are not just affordable to rent or buy, but also affordable to run. These new homes are proof of how great partnership working can make a difference to local people.”
The £11.5m development which includes grant funding of £1.2m from Homes England got underway in March this year and will provide 34 homes, including bungalows, for affordable rent and shared ownership and 15 homes for open market sale.
On completion, the affordable homes will be split between Broadacres and South Lakes Housing. Completion of the first phase of homes is expected to be from autumn 2023. People in Sedbergh and the surrounding communities being given priority on these homes.
The homes are being developed in partnership with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Homes England and construction partner EQUANS.
Sam Matthews, head of technical at EQUANS, said: “Working with Broadacres and South Lakes Housing to deliver 49 affordable homes will provide a significant boost for the Sedbergh community, giving residents options to move into a modern, high-quality, new home and allowing their children the chance to live where they grew up.
“In addition, using new technologies such as Air Source Heat Pumps to provide cheaper, energy-efficient, heating to each property will give residents savings on their energy bills. I’m looking forward to seeing the development continue to take shape over the coming months.”
