Hindolveston Homes Give Locals a Start on the Property Ladder

Four new shared-ownership homes will be available at Hindolveston in the New Year to people in need of affordable housing, thanks to a new building project by North Norfolk District Council and Broadland Housing Association.

Shared ownership allows people who cannot otherwise become home-owners to get into the housing market. They buy a share in a property and pay rent on the remaining share, which stays in the ownership of Broadland Housing Association. Over time, they can increase their share in the property (in this case, up to 80 per cent). They must offer that share back to the housing association if they leave.

The four new shared-ownership houses at Hindolveston are part of a 15-home development on "exception sites" at either end of the village (the other 11 properties in the development will be for rent). "Exception sites" are areas where development would not normally be allowed under planning policy, but where exceptions are made - often with conditions about who can occupy them - because of the need for affordable housing.

People with a local connection to Hindolveston and the adjoining parishes of Melton Constable, Swanton Novers, Thurning and Wood Norton will get priority for all 15 new dwellings. Five of the rented homes (at the western end of Hindolveston) will be available in December 2005, while the homes at the eastern end of the village (the four shared-ownership houses and the other six rented homes) will be ready in January.

The 15 properties will only be offered to people who are on NNDC's Common Housing Register of people in housing need. Anyone interested in one of these shared-ownership properties should call NNDC's Strategic Housing Services team on 01263 516069 to register. And they can request information packs about the homes by writing to Broadland Housing Association, 100 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4AB, by calling 01603 750200, by email at enquiries@broadlandhousing.org or via the website www.broadlandhousing.org.uk

The bulk of the of the overall cost of the development of nearly £1.5 million is being met by Broadland Housing Association. But £300,000 has been contributed through the Norfolk strategic partnership, called Norfolk Ambition, and the North Norfolk Community Partnership, out of funds pulled in by cutting the discount on the council tax charged on second homes in Norfolk. NNDC has contributed a further £80,000.

For media inquiries, contact Nicola Simpson, Development Officer, on 01263 516201 or Strategic Housing Manager Karen Hill on 01263 516183.

ENDS