South Somerset Homes build in partnership with Rok 13 new affordable homes in Castle Cary
25 April 2005

South Somerset Homes has this week completed building 13 new affordable homes in Ansford, Castle Cary. The project, which is a regeneration of an existing site owned by South Somerset Homes, was originally four old concrete houses, which have been knocked down and replaced with the new homes.

They are a mixture of 2 bedroom flats together with 2 and 3 bedroom houses. They are also a mixture of tenure; with 6 for rent and 7 for part buy part rent. The total cost of the build is £1.1 million and has been jointly funded by South Somerset Homes and the Housing Corporation.

Pictured here are the new houses at the entrance to the development at
St, Andrews Close in Ansford, Castle Cary.

Some of the houses have an en-suite bathroom with all of them having double-glazing, central heating, landscaped front gardens and a small patio and shed in the rear garden as well as a parking space near to the property and generally higher space standards than most house builders.

The tenants whose original homes had to be demolished have had a choice of kitchen and bathroom flooring, kitchen units and work tops plus a choice of paint finishes when they move into their new home.

One of the tenants at St Andrews Close is Jenny Moore and her daughters, Rebecca and Hannah. They lived in one of the original old concrete houses and were moved out whilst the new homes were being built and at the end of March they moved into their brand new 3 bedroom house.

Pictured here from left to right is David Heath presenting the hamper of local produce to Jenny Moore and her daughter, Rebecca.

Jenny Moore said, “We are absolutely thrilled with our new home. From the start to the finish we have always been kept informed of what was happening, which was brilliant. It was great being able to choose our kitchen units and works tops plus the colours that we wanted the walls. We can’t thank South Somerset Homes and Rok enough, we are over the moon.”

Geoff Atkinson, Chief Executive at South Somerset Homes said, “This is a great scheme and we are currently on site building over 200 new homes across South Somerset. We are doing this for families like Jenny, Rebecca and Hannah. Over the next 10 years we will build over 2500 new homes for local people.”

Pictured here from left to right is Geoff Atkinson (Chief Executive, South Somerset Homes), MP David Heath, Mike Kay (Director of Asset Management, South Somerset Homes), Jenny Moore and her daughter, Rebecca and Chris Hyde (Area Director, Rok)

Chris Hyde, Rok’s Area Director said, "We are delighted to have contributed to this excellent example of working in partnership to regenerate a brownfield site. The team has produced a quality development to fit within its existing environment and to enhance the local community."

Liberal Democrat MP David Heath attended the official opening of the development and presented Jenny and her daughter Rebecca with a locally produced hamper.

David Heath said, "I was delighted to be invited to the opening of St Andrews and hope that the residents will have many happy years living here."

Pictured here are two of the new houses at St, Andrews Close in Ansford, Castle Cary.