Built in partnership with SME construction
firm, Helix, the new homes for rent provide much needed affordable homes in the
area, replacing garages that weren’t fit for modern day use.
The new homes provide a mixture of
one-bedroom flats and two- and three-bedroom houses, with residents having
moved in from August 2023.
All properties have electric air source heat
pumps and are insulated above the levels required by Building Regulations,
providing homes that are safe, warm, and affordable for residents both now and
in the future.
One of the properties has been specially
adapted to meet the needs of a local resident who is a wheelchair user. As well
as providing a kitchen with adjustable worktops and specialist white goods,
Helix and West Kent have worked together and in partnership with Sevenoaks
District Council to install a through-the-floor wheelchair lift so the resident
can get to the first floor.
Anabel Palmer, Director of Development and
Partnerships at West Kent said: “This
is a great example of how we can utilise brownfield sites that are no longer
fit for purpose with family homes that really meet the housing need of the
local area. We’re really proud of the work we’ve done and the strong
partnership working with Helix, which has resulted in 14 new homes that exceed
building standards and support residents to live in a safe and energy-efficient
home.”
Jon Schofield, Construction Director at Helix
commented: “We’re delighted to be
completing these much-needed affordable homes in Swanley. Our close working
partnership with West Kent means we have been able to maximise potential across
these sites to provide high-quality, energy efficient homes for the local community.”
The development comes as part of West Kent’s
ambition to continue to grow to 10,000 homes alongside investing in their
current portfolio to ensure their homes better meet residents’ current and
future needs.
West Kent Housing Association was established in 1989 to accept
the transfer of homes from Sevenoaks District Council. It was one of the first
large scale voluntary transfer associations in the country. West Kent is a
not-for-profit organisation regulated by the Regulator of Social
Housing.
