Wiltshire Council is on track to meet its goal of building 1,000 affordable homes, with hundreds already complete or planned.
The council already built affordable homes before. They finished 63 homes in 2017/18, with ninety-five homes appearing in 2018/19. Nineteen more homes finished in 2019/20, and the council then built 23 homes in 2020/21.
The new plan wants to build even more homes. They will invest more money and use different building methods to increase the number of homes quickly.
The council is investing millions in this project, using different funding sources. Section 106, Right to Buy funds, developer contributions, and funding from Homes England all help. They are building energy-efficient homes with this funding.
They use different construction methods, including purchase agreements and regeneration projects, as well as acquisitions. Some homes use Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
MMC homes get built in factories very precisely. Cranes then lower them into place, improving the build quality and making them more energy efficient. They also installed their first MMC bungalow recently.
Nineteen MMC properties are built or being built, with eighty-five more MMC homes planned. The council bought old army homes in Devizes and will fix them up and improve energy efficiency. There are eighteen homes with two or three bedrooms.
Councillor Phil Alford talked about the project, stating they are making good progress on the homes. New homes will have high quality and meet specific housing needs.
These new homes will be affordable to rent and cheap to heat. Most homes will get a “B” energy rating, and this energy efficiency helps lower costs, which helps people with low incomes.
The council will also improve existing homes, aiming for a minimum energy rating of B. Affordable housing is a main goal, and more housing developments are coming soon, demonstrating the commitment is providing needed housing.