Wigan Council is working with construction firm Redrow to bring affordable homes to the borough. The first show house on the College Court development in Newtown – on the site of the old St Thomas More High School – will be opened on Saturday 28 January
Developers report that there has already been a huge amount of interest in the scheme - and with show homes now available, enquiries are set to increase.
140 new 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes are being built and many will be made available on affordable terms. As well as offering homes through the national Government backed FirstBuy scheme, 28 homes are available in partnership with the council on a shared equity basis.
Cllr Kevin Anderson, cabinet champion for communities, said: “I am delighted to see these new homes being built in Wigan and that there has been such a high level of interest at a time when very few developers are building new homes.”
Prices start from £69,995. To be eligible to access the scheme, the would-be buyer must have a local connection with the borough. The criteria states that they must live, work or have a family connection here and be able to afford the moving costs and monthly repayments, yet not be able to afford to buy a similar property on the open market. Purchasers would need to come up with 70% of the full market value through a conventional mortgage or savings but the remaining 30% would be offered as an equity loan by the council.
Cllr Anderson added: “Because we can help potential buyers, it is a great opportunity for local people to buy their first home on a brand new development in a great location. These homes add to the range of affordable homes we are currently developing in partnership with house builders and housing associations across the borough to help people find properties that are with their reach to rent or buy.”
The public’s first chances to see the new properties will be on Saturday 28 January from 11am to 5pm and Sunday 29 January, from 10am to 5pm. There will be an opening event where all are invited to find out more about the affordable housing scheme, as well as the whole of the College Court site, which is off Scot Lane in Newtown.
Further information on how Wigan Council’s affordable housing scheme works is available on 01942 489206, or from Redrow directly about the College Court site on 01942 386129.
