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Council plan to build homes

Eastbourne Town Hall

Eastbourne Town Hall

With ever increasing pressure on housing waiting lists in the town, Cabinet councillors last night agreed measures to accelerate increased building of new affordable homes in Eastbourne.

Major changes in government housing policy, particularly the way in which the social housing sector is financed, has challenged local authorities to pursue new funding streams to help meet local housing demand.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Development, Councillor Margaret Bannister, said, “We have a growing demand for affordable homes in Eastbourne and whilst government grants have significantly reduced we are still finding ways to build houses for families.

“We are now moving ahead with a range of measures, including the disposal of properties no longer suitable for social housing and the setting up of a Housing and Economic development Project Board, which will allow us to make use of our own assets and enhance our investment capacity.”

The Strategic Housing Market Assessment of Eastbourne states an annual need for 230 additional affordable homes.

In 2011/12 the council let 212 homes, set against a waiting list of 3,889 households.

Councillor Bannister added, “We are looking to be innovative and use new freedoms to both develop new homes and promote the economic development prospects for our town.

“As a first phase, a number of sites that have become redundant and obsolete could be developed quickly as they are in council ownership and offer the potential for up to 23 new affordable family homes.

“These include Coventry Court in Seaside, a smaller site in Belmore Road and a car park in Tenterden Close, Langney, allied to the sale of a four bedroomed property in Vicarage Road, also owned by Eastbourne Borough Council.

“Designs will now be developed for the sites and subject to planning approval we hope to begin on site as soon as possible.”


 
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Weather for Eastbourne

Monday 20 May 2013

5 day forecast

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Light rain

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