19.09.19
Shropshire council approves funding for new homes
In a full council meeting earlier today (Thursday 19), Shropshire council have reached a unanimous decision to agree funding and the transfer of land for the building of new homes.
The council-owned local housing company Cornovii Developments Limited, set up to enable people in the local area to have homes that they ‘want, need and can afford’
The company name comes from Celtic people of Iron Age and Roman Britain, who lived in Shropshire and other parts of the UK, named Cornovii. A nod to their current efforts to ensure people can enjoy living in Shropshire for many years to come.
The company was formed on 6 July 2019 in an attempt to reach the unmet housing needs in the area and generate income for the council.
As it stands, the council owns the brownfield land at Monkmoor in Shrewsbury and Ifton Health in Oswestry. However, today’s decision will mean a transfer of the land and a loan of £14m to Cornovii to get housing development underway as soon as possible.
Robert Macey, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for housing and strategic planning, said: “It’s an extremely exciting time for the company and we now look forward to taking these two sites forward.
“Shropshire currently has a housing waiting list of over 5,000 individuals and families. This, coupled with an ageing population who want to live independently for longer, and people wanting to live closer to where they work, point towards just some of the needs we are trying to meet.
“It will also help us to shape places and use any income to build even more homes and deliver essential services. We intend to work closely with town councils, parish councils, Shropshire-based businesses and partners to ensure that we build the types of homes that are needed and help boost the local economy.”
Initial plans for the housing include 100 two, three and four-bedroom family homes. Providing all approval goes through without problem, the work could begin as soon as Spring 2020.
Mr Macy added: “These two sites are only the beginning: the board will be considering a proposal to start feasibility studies to develop another site at their next meeting, and 48 more have also already been identified. It’s important that we keep the process moving.
“Some of the profit that the company makes will be used to buy land in future so that it can build homes in areas of our county that are unviable for private housebuilders.”