Residents move into affordable homes at Kings Barton
Residents are beginning to move into affordable homes at the new Kings Barton housing development in Winchester.
Constructed by Cala Homes, the scheme will deliver 2000 homes of which 800 (40 percent) have been designated affordable. Kings Barton will also feature community facilities along with a new school and park and ride facility to serve the north of the city.
The development is part of a move to make the city area of Winchester more affordable for homeowners, whilst retaining the Council’s five-year land supply.
Work is well underway to complete phase 1B, which includes 89 affordable homes comprising 52 low-cost shared ownership and 37 affordable properties. These will be delivered by the housing association VIVID.
VIVID is Hampshire’s largest provider of affordable homes with around 30,000 homes in the South East, mainly across Hampshire and Surrey.
Families have already moved into shared equity homes, and the first rented accommodation will be released later this month.
Mike Shepherd, VIVID Director of New Business & Development said:
We’re pleased to be playing an important part in the creation of much needed homes at Kings Barton in Winchester, bringing 89 new homes for rent and shared ownership in one of the most expensive areas of the country. Kings Barton is in an excellent location, just a few miles from the city centre, whilst being near the countryside. We’re pleased to be able to offer affordable housing options to suit a range of family sizes and budgets, and to help more people secure homes in the local area.
Leader of Winchester City Council and Portfolio Holder for Housing Councillor Caroline Horrill added:
I am delighted to see residents move into affordable homes at Kings Barton. It demonstrates our commitment to ensuring our residents have a better choice of housing, a key element of the new Housing Strategy. This scheme has progressed quickly and will deliver a range of affordable housing options for residents in Winchester.