Work begins on 64 new affordable homes as part of Handley Chase development in Sleaford

Work has started on more than 60 new affordable homes on the edge of Sleaford.

We’re delivering the homes as part of the wider Handley Chase development in the town and we’re working with Lincolnshire-based Lindum Group on the development.

In total, 64 affordable homes will be built and the development has been part-funded through a grant from Homes England as part of our strategic partnership.

Marcus Keys, our Executive Director of Growth and Development, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing more much needed affordable housing to North Kesteven and it’s great to see work underway on site.

“As a Group, we’re committed to providing the homes people want, where they’re needed the most and we’re very pleased to be working with our partners at Lindum Group to respond to the local need in this area.

As a fully affordable scheme, this development will give local families and residents the opportunity to get onto the property ladder and have a home they can call their own.

“I’m very much looking forward to seeing work progress on this site and I’m excited to see our plans become a reality.”

Thirty of the homes on the development are to be offered for sale on a shared ownership basis, with the remaining 34 available for affordable rent. It’ll include a mix of two, three and four bedroom properties.

In addition, two public open spaces with new trees will be created as well as a new pedestrian link through to Rosewood Drive.

The development site forms part of the ongoing Handley Chase development, which was approved in July 2015. The wider scheme involves creating a Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) to Sleaford including 1,450 houses, a new school and commercial space.

Lindum Group Contracts Manager Gavin Parker said: “We’re really pleased to be at Handley Chase today. Lindum Group has been working to bring forward this development for almost two years and so it’s great to be marking the start of construction work.

The first stage of the scheme is groundworks, which will involve stripping the top soil, excavating the attenuation pond and setting out the new estate road. We intend to reuse the majority of the soil on site at a later date.

“This week (18 Oct), we’re excavating the first foundations and we should be installing the first timber frames during early December.

“We plan to handover the homes in three phases, with the first properties completed by the end of next summer and the last finished by the end of the year.

“Once complete, these homes will be a welcome addition to the housing stock in North Kesteven and will be central to the new community that’s being created as part of the town’s Sustainable Urban Development.”

Leader of North Kesteven District Council, Councillor Richard Wright, added: “It’s fantastic to see work now underway on these new homes, which form part of the existing Handley Chase development in the town and support the wider Sustainable Urban Extension to Sleaford.

With thirty of them for sale as shared ownership and 34 of them for affordable rent, this scheme will help ensure that the high quality homes people need are readily available and our communities can continue to flourish as a result.”