Newly-built homes standing empty across the town are being freed up for affordable housing under council plans to create 100 new affordable properties a year, the Chronicle can reveal.
The scheme to meet the increasing demand for affordable homes is being developed by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council through the growth point funding board – a district and county-run group funded by a government grant of £5.94 million over the next three years.
Working in conjunction with the Homes and Communities Agency – formerly the Housing Corporation – and social housing landlords, the borough aims to purchase empty houses not selling on the open market.
While the majority of the cost is being met by the HCA and Wrekin Housing Trust, SABC is ‘plugging the gap’ to ensure the target of up to 100 affordable homes a year can be met. Plans are already finalised for 18 properties on Ellesmere Grange and negotiations are underway with developers at the site of the former Radbrook Hall Hotel and Mayfield Development in Battlefield.
Richard Lawrence, SABC manager of the growth point funding scheme, said while some of the 100 affordable homes a year would come through from existing developments, it was important to find other means of meeting the figure. Councillor Malcolm Price, borough portfolio holder for housing, said: “There are brand new properties people can’t sell, it’s ridiculous they should stand empty and idle while people need housing. Let’s get them up and running.”