Braintree district sees hundreds of affordable homes completed

Braintree Council has said the 424 homes built surpassed its target by 70 per cent and is the highest number of affordable homes ever recorded in the district in a single year. 

Affordable housing is built by registered social landlords, housing associations, private landlords and developers.

Braintree Council says it has been able to increase the supply of affordable housing by securing affordable housing as a requirement on new developments through the planning process, requiring developers to provide between 30 to 40 per cent of new homes being built on major developments as affordable housing.

These policies aim to help people who cannot afford to purchase or rent homes on the open market.

Some of the schemes completed during 2023-24 included 18 at Bury Farm in Hatfield Peverel, and 12 homes at land west of Hedingham Road and South of The Limes in Gosfield.

NEW SITE: An affordable housing scheme at a development in Mount Hill in Halstead (Image: Eastlight Community Homes)

The council’s target for 2024/25 is for a further 250 additional affordable homes to be completed across a range of sites including Kelvedon, Halstead, Silver End and Finchingfield.

Braintree Council housing boss Lynette Bowers-Flint said: "The delivery, supply and demand for affordable housing remains one of the most complex and challenging issues local authorities and partner landlords deal with.

“Since 2017 we have helped deliver more than 1,800 additional affordable homes for residents, but for councils there are simply not enough affordable housing properties to home everyone who applies for one.

“We also acknowledge the strain on residents not being able to get private rented properties due to landlords deciding to sell rather than let.

“We continue to do all we can to help influence national policy to address the pressing need for affordable housing.”