Joy as Babergh delivers eight new social houses to Shotley peninsula

Residents in Shotley were jumping for joy as Babergh councillors received the keys to a new social housing development in Shotley this week.

Eight families can now look forward to moving into the new homes at Queensland, in the village – with three of the properties specifically allocated for families with a Shotley connection.

Queenland's eight new homes, consist of a block of five two-bedroom homes, which replace two post war bungalows, and another block of three further down the road on the opposite side, which replace one old house.

District councillor Derek Davis, Ganges ward (Shotley and Erwarton) ensured people with strong Shotley connections would be allocated at least three of the new homes by insisting a condition was placed in the S106 legal agreement, and that is being honoured.

"It was important for my constituents that Shotley residents benefitted from these new homes," said Cllr Davis. "I know the Gateway system allows anyone with a high enough banding to be able to bid of these houses, but as soon as we knew the three old houses were going to be made eight, I fought to ensure those with housing need within the village would not miss out.

"It is wonderful to see this come to fruition, and the sheer joy on the faces of a couple of those residents who have been successful in bidding due to their Shotley connections. makes it all worthwhile."

These latest developments also support the councils' commitment to combating climate change, with the new-build homes at Shotley using air source heat pumps as the primary heating source, making them more energy efficient and reducing carbon emissions. Electric car charging points also feature at the Queensland development.

Cllr Osborne said: "This investment represents so much more than bricks and mortar. This is about ensuring we can meet local housing need for local people by creating affordable, safe and sustainable properties that people are proud to call home.

"I wish all our future tenants and home-owners every happiness, both here in Shotley and across our district."

The two-bedroom homes will now be added to Babergh District Council's existing stock of more than 3,400 council homes – with further social housing schemes also due to complete soon in Cockfield, Great Waldingfield and Sproughton.

Those new homes provide a mix of social, affordable rental (with the cost of monthly rent set below the market rate) and shared ownership options, helping lower income house-hunters onto the first rung of the property ladder.

The new council homes will be allocated depending on need via Gateway to Homechoice.

Anyone interested in finding out more about buying a property through a shared ownership scheme, should register with the Help To Buy scheme.

*Scroll arrow right on top image to see more pictures inside and out of the Queensland development.