First council homes for more than 20 years

SEVEN new homes are being handed over to Amber Valley Borough Council – the first for more than two decades.

The homes off Moor Lane, Kirk Langley, will be rolled out in two phases, with the initial residents expected in April. The properties comprise two one-bed homes, three two-bed homes, and two three-bed homes and a bungalow.

Prospective tenants vying for residency must demonstrate a local connection to the area or one of the adjacent parishes.

Each property will have driveways and gardens, with some homes being equipped with solar panels.

The announcement signifies the return of council housing to Amber Valley after two decades. The authority was last a stock holding authority in 2003.

The council says the reintroduction of council homes is a reversal from the trend since 1985, when all but one of the council’s housing stock were sold off to Futures Housing, leaving only a solitary direct housing tenant.

With 2,014 households on the waiting list for housing, this initiative is a small start to a pressing need within the community.

Cllr Chris Emmas Williams, leader of the council, said: “Today represents a huge step forward in terms of meeting the needs of local people. For a long time, I have felt strongly about the need to supply decent council housing for people in our area. The first four homes are now being handed over from the developer with three more to follow at their site.

“We are very aware that it is a drop in the ocean in terms of fulfilling the housing need in the area, but we must start somewhere.

“We are delighted to see the hard work of all those concerned in this project come to fruition and to have the first four homes ready for residents. He said that a further 21 homes are being acquired in Belper.

“It is so important for communities to be able to stay together if they wish to and stop the heart-breaking situation where grown up children of long-standing residents have to leave the area they grew up in because they can’t afford to live in the district.”

He went on to state that a further 21 homes are being acquired in Belper, with further funding of £8.96 million has been allocated for housing in Amber Valley and will be used flexibly over the next three years.