Mayor’s visit marks completion of affordable homes at Alconbury Weald

More than 90 affordable homes have been completed on a development in Cambridgeshire.

The Boulevard at Alconbury Weald is made up of 94 homes, available for affordable rent and Shared Ownership. Many of them have been made available exclusively for key workers.

The homes, funded via a £4.4 million grant by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, have been built by Crest Nicholson on a site owned by Man GPM, the private markets business of Man Group.

We’re managing the homes, which range from one to four-bedroom, on their behalf.

Upon completion of the homes, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, toured the site and met a resident.

Marcus Keys, Executive Director of Growth, Development and Assets, said: “This is a new way of working between for-profit and not-for-profit registered housing providers.

“Man Group presented us with an opportunity to work on a long-term management agreement, bringing our experience and local knowledge to one of their first developments.

“Alconbury Weald is a flagship development that has created a vibrant new community and Longhurst Group is proud to be a part of that."

Residents are already enjoying living on the new development and Kayleigh Keiss, one of our Shared Ownership customers who lives with her partner, said: “We're very pleased with our new home. It's an upgrade for us as we were renting and didn't have a garden or our own space. The house is open plan living and a lot bigger. We’re very, very happy.

"Shared Ownership has made this affordable. We wouldn't have been able to get onto the property ladder without Shared Ownership, so it's definitely helped us get to this point.

"We also want to look into staircasing and owning a bigger share in the future.”

As well as the Mayor, representatives from each organisation involved in the development attended, alongside Huntingdonshire district councillors Tom Sanderson and Ann Blackwell.

Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: “It was fantastic to see the completion of these new, much-needed affordable homes, many of which are supporting our key workers.

“As an NHS doctor, I know how important it is our key workers have access to good affordable housing, that is close to where they work, and so these additional 94 homes are a welcome addition.

“Affordable housing is a major issue for people in all parts of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and I am working with Government to unlock more of the funding needed to ease the housing crisis and help more people into decent homes and on to the housing ladder.”

Shamez Alibhai, Managing Director and Head of Community Housing at Man GPM, added: “We’re really proud of this site and the vibrant community that is being established around it. The lack of affordable housing is an issue across the country, and it has been a pleasure to work with our partners in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that share our mission and vision for increasing the supply of high-quality homes.”

Combined Authority Housing Programme Manager Azma Ahmad-Pearce said: “I’m delighted with the completion of the project and how well received it has been. Many key workers will benefit from a new, affordable home, and it’s thanks to good partnership working with Man GPM that we can celebrate today.”