PEMBROKESHIRE council could have 10 more social housing units in its stock within the year after a housing purchase call was backed by senior councillors.
At the October 6 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members backed the purchase of the new build homes, a mixture of two and three-bed houses, currently under construction at Rose Haven, Rosemarket; the final agreement delegated to senior officers.
This follows the backing of the purchase between 37 and 41 houses agreed at the September meeting.
A report at the October meeting, presented by Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Michelle Bateman said: “The council has a corporate priority that aims to increase the supply of affordable and social homes and is seeking to expand its housing stock and satisfy local housing need. These ‘off-the-self purchase’ opportunities would help towards both the council’s 300 new home target and also Welsh Governments 20,000 new homes target.
“In the context of housing development, an Off the Shelf purchase (OTS) consists of newly completed properties, offered on the open market by a contractor/developer for a fixed price on the basis of a single conveyancing contract.
“The OTS opportunity would provide the council with up to 10 properties built to a modern specification which are fossil fuel free and benefit from PV panels and air source heat pumps.
“The site will provide the opportunity for a mix of social and intermediate rent housing.”
It added: “Currently there is no match funding grant assigned to this potential acquisition however enquiries have been made with both the Social Housing Grant (SHG) and Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP) teams.
“If cabinet agreement is given, and subject to due diligence checks, it is hoped that acquisition of these 10 units could be completed within this financial year. Any purchase will be dependent on suitable SHG or TACP funding being secured with the match provided from the Housing Revenue Account.
“The need to provide additional affordable and social housing is a high priority for the council and if acquired, these new homes will be let at rents in line with the council’s rent policy, making the homes affordable for those in need.”
Members unanimously backed the delegated purchase of the housing.
At the September Cabinet meeting, members backed the acquisition of up to 16 new build housing units as an off the shelf deal at Harcourt Close, Hook, and entering into a package deal arrangement for the purchase of 21 affordable homes, along with an option for four ‘intermediate’ affordable units on land at Sandyhill, Saundersfoot.
