Council’s housing pledge

SOUTH Cambridgeshire District Council has marked rural housing week with a pledge to continue developing affordable housing in the district.

The last year has seen 90 new affordable homes built in South Cambridgeshire on exception sites, which would only be given planning permission for affordable homes.

Celebrations took place at two of these sites – in Whaddon and Steeple Morden – as part of rural housing week, a National Housing Federation event which aims to highlight the importance of social housing to small rural communities.

South Cambridgeshire has provided 60 per cent of the new social housing built in Cambridgeshire over the last five years, and Cllr Mark Howell, cabinet member for housing on South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “There is an acute need for more affordable housing in the area and I am delighted that we are leading the way on delivering schemes on exception sites.

“The success in South Cambridgeshire is based on good partnerships with housing associations, as well as a lot of hard work by our housing teams. There is always more to be done, and that is why we have plans to build up to hundreds more council houses over the next 30 years.”

The schemes at Whaddon and Steeple Morden are run by the Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association.

Christine Steele, the association’s development manager, said: “We have an excellent relationship with South Cambridgeshire District Council which has helped deliver a number of new homes.

“We certainly aim to continue that relationship as it is always fantastic to see new homes completed so families can move in.”