Homes open day draws the crowds

5/17/2010

Scores of people flocked to an open day to find out more about affordable homes being built in Bridport by Magna Housing Association

About eighty people went to the event at Mountfield on Thursday 13 May, with 38 of them registering a keen interest in the 17 shared ownership properties at Dibdin View, at Flaxhayes in North Allington.

Neil Allsopp, who is project manager for Charter SW Ltd, Magna’s development arm, said the event was busy throughout the afternoon.

“We had considerable interest from local families and everyone wanted to know the process and what happens next.”

Among those attending were Stephen Courtney and Geraldine Collins (pictured), from Bridport. Stephen is currently living with his mother and Geraldine is in private rented accommodation but the couple would like a home of their own.
“We’ve got a mortgage in place and a healthy deposit,” Stephen said, as he and Geraldine looked at the location plans.

“We saw they were building up there but didn’t realise it was behind River Vale, and the houses look nice.”

Zoe Stevens, from Bridport, is also hoping to get on the housing ladder.

“My partner and I are interested in shared ownership properties and I also had questions about renting,” she said. “The open day was very useful.”

Local solicitors and independent financial advisors with experience of shared ownership mortgages were on hand to give advice, along with staff from West Dorset District Council and Magna for people who were interested in the 37 rented homes that will be available on the development.

The total development cost is more than £8 million with £3.5 million of investment funding being received from the Homes and Communities Agency, the national housing and regeneration agency.  Work is well underway and the development is due to be completed by the end of March 2011.
All properties will be built to the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4, which ensures that homes are built to be highly energy efficient and with a high level of sustainability.

The shared ownership homes will be a mix of two and three bedroom houses.  Priority for shared ownership will be given to people with local connections to the town of Bridport and the parish of Allington. Potential shared ownership buyers are likely to acquire in the region of a 40 per cent share of the property’s market value.

All the people who registered their interest on the day, plus those who were previously registered on the South West Homes ‘Homebuy’ list, will receive a letter giving them a formal opportunity to apply for one of these homes as the build programme progresses over the summer.

While Magna’s solicitors are drawing up the necessary legal documentation, serious home buyers will have time to review their budgets and check out the best deals on the mortgage market.