Thanet District Council celebrated a landmark agreement last week, with the first occupations taking place in the 23 affordable rented homes at Spitfire Green on New Haine Road in Ramsgate. To commemorate the occasion, Councillors and officers visited the development for a site tour on Friday 24 May to discuss further partnership opportunities with the housebuilder, Barratt Homes.
The council recently acquired 23 new homes at Spitfire Green for its social housing register, with a further 18 homes expected to be handed over in the next 18 months. The purchase helps to address the immediate housing need in Thanet, and forms part of the council’s commitment to build or purchase at least 400 homes for affordable rent by 2027. Over 200 homes have now been acquired or built, less than a year into the initiative.
Attendees on the tour hosted by Barratt Homes included Cllr Helen Whitehead, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Cllr Debra Owen-Hughes, Ward Councillor for Northwood and Chair of the Council, as well as officers from the council’s Housing team.
The visit comprised a tour of several properties that are now ready for occupation and concluded with a viewing of the housebuilder’s inaugural ‘Discovery House’ – a semi-built property with cutaway walls and ceilings. The Discovery House offers an insight into Barratt Kent’s fabric-first construction methods, and gives an insight into the design and construction process.
Cllr Helen Whitehead, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “I am so proud of everyone involved in establishing our new Housing strategy, as at only a year into the programme we are not only already seeing the difference these homes make to residents, but we are also over halfway to our initial target.
“We are not just providing housing, but homes; homes that help local people move into secure, and genuinely affordable housing.
“Providing for residents is a vital part of our role as a council. We know that having a safe place to call home has a direct impact on health and happiness. We are only producing and acquiring homes at Energy Rating A and B to ensure that we are providing genuinely affordable housing, and directly tackling the cost of living crisis by reducing future bills for residents; including electric car chargers on our properties, and gifting carpets show our level of commitment to the future of our tenants.
“The Discovery House demonstrates both progress and vision, and I look forward to the educational, training and employment partnerships that can grow from this innovative approach.
“Having committed to building or buying at least 400 new homes within the first term of this administration for people on our housing register or living in temporary accommodation, I am delighted that we are already seeing people move into the first of these energy efficient homes.
“I look forward to seeing many more households in Thanet who have been waiting for a home, receiving tenancies and taking up residence. Providing this level of security and service for our residents is exactly what we should do as a council; and we will continue to work to make housing in Thanet both better and more affordable for local families.”
William Walsh, Managing Director for Barratt Kent, commented: “Partnerships between housebuilders and local authorities are crucial to addressing local housing need. Our latest agreement with Thanet District Council will deliver a total of 41 high quality, efficient and affordable homes for tenants on the social housing register.
“It was a great source of pride to invite Councillors and officers to Spitfire Green for an update on the progress of the housing here, and to enable them to see first hand the high build standards we apply to all homes at our development. We look forward to welcoming the first tenants over the coming days and weeks.”
Photo credit: Barratt Kent
