NEARLY 150 new affordable homes are to be built in the Suffolk Coastal area thanks to a £4 million grant, it was announced today.The news is a big boost to the district after criticism of its performance last year in which only 52 affordable homes were built out of 1,150 new properties in the area - just 4.

NEARLY 150 new affordable homes are to be built in the Suffolk Coastal area thanks to a £4 million grant, it was announced today.

The news is a big boost to the district after criticism of its performance last year in which only 52 affordable homes were built out of 1,150 new properties in the area - just 4.5 per cent.

Of those just two were built in the biggest centre of population, Felixstowe - one in Church Lane and one in Cornwall Road - a town said to be desperate for new homes to rent for young families and single people.

Suffolk Coastal leader Ray Herring said the Housing Corporation grant was for homes in towns and at 20 different rural locations.

He said: “This is excellent news with £3.94 million coming from the Housing Corporation to support the council-backed proposals to build some much-needed new affordable homes in our district.

“We have gained nearly 40 per cent of the cash allocated to councils in the Haven Gateway sub-region, and our total of 147 homes is over twice that of our next highest partner council.

“I would like to thank, on behalf of our residents, the Housing Corporation for recognising the strength of this district's successful bids, and also our partner housing associations which will now be able to press ahead with their plans.”

Most of the homes, 107, will be for rent, but 40 will be available under the home buy new build scheme, the new name for shared ownership, which will allow more people to get their first foot on the housing ladder.

He said: “These successful bids have also had to pass the Housing Corporation's new rules, so they are not only better designed than before but also will play their part in reducing our carbon footprint by being more energy efficient.

“There is over £8 billion set aside for more affordable housing across the country over the next three years, and I am hopeful that there will be more bids approved from this district during that time.

“It has been recognised nationally that there is a need for more investment in rural areas which have missed out on new affordable homes, and we are more than ready to work with our partners to make sure our residents get their fair share.”

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