A landmark affordable housing development has been officially launched at Pow Wood in Portinscale.
The construction of four affordable homes by the Above Derwent Community Land Trust (ADCLT) – its first development – was achieved with grant funding and support from Allerdale Borough Council and Homes England plus financial support from Charity Bank.
The shared ownership family homes have been built for sale to local people and four families with local connections are ready to move into the homes.
The pair of semi-detached homes each have three bedrooms, a garden and two designated parking spaces and were built by W R Richardson of Whitehaven. In addition, a public footpath has been created along the length of the development providing safety for pedestrians.
ADCLT was established in 2016 and is a community benefit society. The board is made up of volunteers who live throughout the parish. It was established as a direct consequence of actions to produce a community plan by Above Derwent Parish Council where parishioners expressed concerns of the lack of affordable homes within the area for local people.
The ribbon was cut by Joy Pemberton-Smith, Chair of Above Derwent Parish Council.
Don Thoburn, chair of ADCLT, said, “We are delighted to launch the Pow Wood development, and hope it will be the first of many affordable housing schemes we can progress in the area.
“Our thanks go to Homes England, Allerdale Borough Council, Charity Bank, Gately’s solicitors, and our many other stakeholders and partners for their support during the development.
“The development was made even more difficult than anticipated due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and the shortages of construction materials. But our contractor W R Richardsons did a sterling job of bringing the development to completion.
“I would also like to thank the directors of ADCLT, who are all volunteers and have given their time generously to turn the idea of Pow Wood into reality.
“Given the continuing increase in numbers of second homes and holiday lets in the area, together with the high price of property, there is an ongoing growing need for affordable housing to enable young people to get onto the housing ladder.”
Mr Thoburn added that the support of the community is ‘extremely important’ and urged those who believe in affordable homes for local people to become a member of the ADCLT.
The application form is available by emailing the secretary at [email protected].
