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Come to the Bexley New Homes Show
A special event is being held next month for local residents and key workers who are keen to get a foot on the housing ladder.
The event, from 1pm to 7pm on 26 April at the Marriott Hotel, Bexleyheath, is being organised by Bexley Council and Tower Homes to promote low cost home ownership. With low cost home ownership schemes people buy a share of a property. Later, if their financial circumstances allow, they can buy further shares until finally they own the property outright.
There are two main schemes operating in Bexley. The first is called Open Market HomeBuy. This is primarily aimed at key workers and existing public sector tenants. Buyers select a home and are expected to raise 75 per cent of the purchase price from one of the mortgage lenders participating in the scheme. Two equity loans, one from the lender and one from Tower Homes, make up the remainder of the purchase price.
The second is New Build HomeBuy, which allows a buyer to purchase a share in a new or refurbished home. Buyers usually pay a mortgage on the part they own and a subsidised rent on the rest.
The particular schemes in Bexley that will be promoted at the event are:
The Kingfishers, North Cray Road, Sidcup - Tower Homes - 42 homes
Wharf House, West Street, Erith - Orbit First Step - 32 homes for key workers
Queen’s Road, Erith - Kelsey Housing Association - 29 homes for key workers
St Joseph’s, Woolwich Road, Abbey Wood - Gallions Housing Association- 37 homes for key workers
Erith High Street South, Erith - Hexagon Housing Association - 52 homes
Visitors to the open day on 26 April will be able to speak to Tower Homes, Kelsey Housing Association, Gallions Housing Association, Hexagon and Orbit First Step and will also have an opportunity to talk to legal and financial advisers.
In Bexley, the Council works with the South East London Housing Partnership (SELHP) to promote low cost home ownership. The partnership involves the boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark, who have a joint waiting list for shared ownership.
affordable homesNEEDED
As the Government appointed independent panel ends its examination of the draft South East Plan on the 30th March, three housing organisations repeat their call for more affordable homes in the South East.
The National Housing Federation, Shelter and the Chartered Institute of Housing are concerned that the Plan’s proposed figure of 28,900 new homes per year will not solve the region’s housing crisis. The organisations have consistently asked for more affordable homes to be built in the region since the independent panel began its examination in November 2006.
There are 181,196 households waiting for homes in the South East, an increase of over 50% during the last 5 years. With the average cost of a home in the region now nearly nine times the average income, the organisations warn the only way to solve the region’s housing crisis is to build more affordable and social rented homes for those in the greatest need.
In addition, the Federation is asking for more public land to be freed up for affordable housing and a higher proportion of the South East’s economic wealth to be ploughed back into regional infrastructure. Additionally, it calls on the Government to ensure that all private housing developments meet the same high sustainability standards achieved by housing associations across the country.
Warren Finney, South East Regional Manager at the National Housing Federation said: “28,900 homes are not enough to address the housing affordability issues facing the South East today or over the next 20 years. The Federation hopes that the independent panel has listened to our evidence and will increase this number. Only this will help avert a worsening housing crisis.”
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The Jacobean Barn has been given a £400,000 facelift and reopens to the public on Wednesday 11 April. One lucky reader can win a £100.00 dining voucher along with one runner up prize of a £50.00 dining voucher.
Click here for for more details |
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