A helping hand
The planning application proposes 72 additional dwellings and includes the replanning of 77 units that already have planning consent, giving a total of 149 homes across Phases 8 and 9 of the development. The proposal will provide a range of smaller high quality homes including 23 two bedroom homes, 69 three bedroom homes and 57 four bedroom homes that will be a mix of open market homes, shared ownership and some homes for rent.
Kingswood are working in partnership with Together Housing, who are a Northern based housing association with a large presence in Blackburn, and who will offer 112 of the units on either a shared ownership basis or available to rent at a discount. The remaining 37 dwellings will be retained by Kingswood Homes and will be sold as open market homes. A number of bungalows are included, and also some ‘First Homes’ will be offered, with a minimum 30% discount to market value, to make them available to those looking for a helping hand to take the first step onto the property ladder.
The pathway
Kingswood Homes has decided to take this step at Green Hills to increase the affordability of their homes so they can be available to the wider population and not just those who are able to access mortgages and purchase their own home. For those who have struggled to get a home of their own because of limited affordability, such as key workers, creating a pathway for them to overcome this challenge is provided via the affordable homes that will be offered.
Shared ownership homes allow people to purchase their own home from as little as 10% and up to 75% of their home and pay rent to Together Housing for the remaining share. The owner will then have the option to buy more of their home over time until it is fully in their ownership, this is known as Staircasing.
Prospective occupiers of the rental homes will have to ensure they are registered at www.b-with-us.com and meet the criteria set out.
All homes will be designed and built by Kingswood Homes to their exceptional quality standards and will therefore complement the existing homes at Green Hills. A variety of quality materials will be used, just like the existing homes on Green Hills, and there will be no visual or quality differential between the rented, shared ownership or open market homes.
Green space
The new phase will be an extension of the existing Green Hills development and include areas of open green space, wildflower meadow, and landscape features such as a linear park running through the development.
Community Contributions
Kingswood Homes will also be making additional Section 106 financial contributions as part of the planning process towards local services including education and other infrastructure requirements as the Council see fit.
FAQ’s
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The new phase will include open market housing for sale, shared ownership and some homes to rent which is for people whose needs are not met by the private market. Affordable housing is a key element of the government’s plan to end the housing crisis, tackle homelessness and provide aspiring homeowners with a step onto the housing ladder. [Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-homes-fact-sheet-9-what-is-affordable-housing/fact-sheet-9-what-is-affordable-housing]
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Anyone whose housing needs are not met on the open market may live in a shared ownership or home to rent. This may include people on lower incomes who are fully employed who are vital to providing services that local communities rely upon; key workers; people with specific needs; or people buying their first home.
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Externally, there will be no difference between the private sale and the Together Housing homes. Internally, they will be built with the same high-quality finish, but these homes will not have the opportunity to use Shape Your Homes to alter the layouts.
You may have a friend or family member in mind who would be suitable for the new phases, and you could be one of the first to make a personal recommendation. To add them to our database please register interest here
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Shared ownership homes will be available in a mix of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes, chosen to satisfy the demand in the local area. The homes will allow for someone to purchase a high-quality home on the Green Hills development who would be unable to purchase on the open market. The homes will be sold the same way as if someone was wishing to buy on the open market, from Kingswood Homes but with support from Together Homes, part of the Together Housing Group.
Homes for rent will be allocated through the B-with-us Allocation Policy and though our arrangements with the local authority. Anyone wishing to rent a home is advised to complete a housing application on B-with-us where your needs will be assessed, and you are able to apply for affordable housing. When the properties are close to being ready, we will start to advertise the properties on the B-with-us website where you will be able to apply for any properties you are eligible for. To find out further details on how properties are allocated or how your needs are assessed please go to https://www.b-with-us.com/content/Aboutus/FrequentlyAskedQuestions
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Current homeowners will not be affected at all by this change. Those who have recently reserved their home or are waiting to move in will also not be affected.
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The information given at the time of your purchase was correct. However, since then Kingswood have done a lot of research into the changing housing market and seen that the highest demand now sits with smaller executive homes, rather than the larger properties that were proposed to be built on phases 8 & 9 of Green Hills. We also consider that providing a mix of tenures to increase the availability and affordability for people within this part of Blackburn is vital and so it is no longer appropriate for Kingswood to just offer larger executive family homes given the current economic climate. We have also noted many positive aspects to offering a mixed community.
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Nothing will change in terms of the existing green space or the existing development layout. The proposed development on phases 8 & 9 will also retain the areas of open spaces and road layout that were previously approved and will include a wildflower meadow, a linear and pocket park plus landscaping in keeping with the other green spaces on site.
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The shared ownership homes will allow more people to partially own their own home and then have the right to staircase to full ownership in due course if they are able. Kingswood Homes will be selling the shared ownership properties on behalf of Together Housing and more information on this will be available in due course.
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Properties will be allocated through the B-with-us Allocation Policy and through our arrangements with the local authority. Anyone wishing to rent an affordable home is advised to complete a housing application on B-with-us where your needs will be assessed, and you are able to apply for affordable housing. When the properties are close to being ready, we will start to advertise the properties on the B-with-us website where you will be able to apply for any properties you are eligible for. To find out further details on how properties are allocated or how your needs are assessed please go to https://www.b-with-us.com/content/Aboutus/FrequentlyAskedQuestions
Over time, occupiers of the affordable rent properties will also have the right to purchase under the Right to Shared Ownership scheme which means they could purchase a share or purchase it outright under the Right to Acquire scheme which will allow for them to purchase it with a discount applied using a government grant managed through Together Housing Group.
