A total of 88 affordable homes have been delivered in West Somerset in the past year, helping to meet the needs of local people.
Conservative-led West Somerset Council works with providers such as housing associations to provide homes at a price people can afford whether to rent or to buy.
The authority is aware of the needs of local people in an area where the average purchase price of a semi-detached property is around £190,000.
“We are constantly on the lookout for ways of delivering affordable housing and, if anyone has any suggestions for sites or properties which would be suitable for conversion they should contact our officers,” said Conservative Councillor Keith Turner who holds the Council’s housing portfolio.
The 88 homes delivered over the past 12 months are a mix of supported housing units, general needs family accommodation and low cost home ownership properties.
Schemes include
Chadwyck Close in Porlock – where 15 affordable homes - 12 for affordable rent and three shared ownership – have been provided in partnership with Hastoe Housing Association.
The Beach Hotel in Minehead where a project with Somerset Coast YMCA has brought a redundant hotel back into use as supported housing accommodation and a functioning hotel in partnership with West Somerset College.
Brackensfield in Alcombe – a scheme of 33 affordable rented homes in partnership with Magna West Somerset Housing Association. This has delivered 15 properties in the past financial year with a remaining 18 to be handed over by July 2014.
Higil Lea in Crowcombe – five affordable homes for rent delivered in partnership with Falcon Rural Housing.
Cllr Turner said: “I am delighted we have been able to facilitate the provision of so many much needed homes and I am looking forward to more success in the year ahead.”
In the current financial year there are currently 73 completions expected including the long anticipated development at Townsend Farm, Carhampton in partnership with Hastoe Housing Association and a further project with Somerset Coast YMCA
In addition there are at least half a dozen sites across the district with negotiations at a relatively advanced stage that have the ability to deliver up to 53 affordable homes into 2015 and beyond.