Gloucester City Homes delivers 13 new houses - with more to follow
It doesn't say it in the story below, but the most recent batch of homes from GCH is an investment worth £3.4m. It's a welcome boost for a county with 5,000 households on the waiting list.
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£3.4m investment helps tackles Gloucestershire’s “urgent need” for new homes
Seventeen new houses have come on the market thanks to Gloucester City Homes and its construction partner Cape Homes, as the county battles to house 5,000 households.
Attached to every story of housebuilding comes stories of joy, as people look to get the keys to their new homes. And then there is the bigger picture of the many thousands still waiting for their own happy ending.
Gloucester City Homes announcement that it has just completed 13 energy efficient homes in Longford, just north of Gloucester, with four more due in the coming months, is more good news for those waiting.
“Demand for secure and genuinely affordable homes is rising sharply in the local area,” according to the city-based housing association, adding that there was an “urgent need for more”.
The one and two-bedroom maisonettes and two and three-bedroom houses all come with dedicated parking and private gardens and will be allocated through a system independent of GCH, which will manage the properties - along with the 5,000-plus is is already in charge of.
The waiting list is held by Gloucester City Council through the county-wide choice-based lettings scheme, Homeseeker Plus. Anyone looking for social housing in Gloucestershire applies through this scheme and is given a priority band based on their level of need.
“Once registered, applicants can bid for available properties across all participating housing providers, including GCH. Shortlists are then created, with those in the highest priority, typically Gold band, placed at the top. Given the level of demand, in reality it is usually only households in this highest band who are successful.
“The scale of the challenge is significant. There are more than 5,000 households currently on the waiting list, while GCH typically has no more than around 250 homes become available each year. This means demand for social housing far outstrips supply.
“When a property becomes available, GCH works through the shortlist in priority order. Prospective tenants are contacted, invited to view the home, and go through pre-tenancy checks, including affordability assessments. If the property is not suitable, the offer moves to the next person on the list.
“For these particular homes in Longford, Tewkesbury Borough Council has an additional condition that applicants need to have a local connection to Tewkesbury i.e. they must work or have family in the area to be eligible.”
Guy Stenson, GCH’s CEO said “Everyone deserves a high-quality, secure and genuinely affordable home as the foundation for a healthy and stable life. These are homes for life – thoughtfully designed and sustainable. They will give families and individuals the foundation to plan for the future, stay close to schools, jobs and support networks, and be part of a thriving community.”
All homes in the scheme are for social rent and built to high environmental standards, achieving EPC A ratings thanks to features such as air source heat pumps and solar PV panels. More than one third are designed to support independent living, with step-free layouts, wider doorways, level thresholds, accessible parking and wet rooms. One home includes a height-adjustable kitchen for wheelchair users.
Councillor Alex Hegenbarth, Lead Member for Communities and Housing at Tewkesbury Borough Council, said the development “set a benchmark for sustainable living”.
All GCH homes are advertised through Gloucestershire’s Homeseeker lettings system www.homeseekerplus.co.uk.