First customers move into new affordable homes

A former demolished garage site in Burton Manor has been transformed into nine modern and affordable homes by Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH).

The first customers to move into the recently completed homes at The Spinney, were welcomed in a special celebration, on Monday, November 29.

SARH’s Chief Executive Karen Armitage was joined by Stafford Borough Council Chief Executive Ian Thompson  to present customers with the keys to their new home.

One of the new families moving in is Jayne and Alan Roden with their 11 month old son Harry.

“We are delighted to be moving into our new home in time for Christmas. We are so excited and can’t believe how lucky we are to have such a lovely place to live,” said Jayne Rodan.

The new homes are the first in a £4.7million project by SARH to build 44 new affordable homes in the Borough in partnership with Housing Plus as well as developers William Davies Homes and Clutton Homes.

SARH chief executive Karen Armitage, said: “This is what being a great landlord is all about and what we have aspired to achieve since SARH was formed in 2006 – creating lovely new build homes for families with children who are starting out in life.

“New homes are so much more than bricks and mortar, they are places families can put down roots, bring up their children, go to work and build supportive communities.”

The project is also being supported by Stafford Borough Council and a £2.2million grant from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Two of the properties on The Spinney have been taken up through a shared ownership scheme – with special Mortgages provided by Stafford Railway Building Society.

A further 10 homes are being built at Hawksmoor Road, at Rising Brook, and 25 properties are also being built on the sites of the demolished working men’s club in Douglas Road West, in Coton Fields, and disused land at St Peters Close, in Silkmore.

Two architects – Barnett Ratcliffe Partnership and Metropolis – have designed the homes to an energy efficiency level exceeding government guidelines. This will help customers reduce their heating bills through technology such as solar panels and high efficiency condensing boilers.