Building much-needed affordable homes in Staffordshire

Statistics from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show over 10,000 Staffordshire households were waiting for a council house in March 2021. Stoke-based Honeycomb Group is on a mission to change this by building 210 new homes by 2024.

The Group have already built 48 new homes in the last two years.

Although COVID-19 created huge barriers to house-building, the Group transformed a closed school site in Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent into 20 two and three bed homes. They also built eight adapted bungalows in Newstead for people and families with mobility issues or whose children were being supported by the Donna Louise Trust.

Their biggest development was an extension to a retirement village ran by Staffs Housing. Rowan Village, in Meir, now has an 18 apartment annexe built on the former ASB hotspot, Station Hotel public house.

The latest development for Honeycomb Group is 13 affordable homes at the Bellway, Cecilly Mills site in Cheadle, Staffordshire. Of the 13 homes, five will be sold to low-income people and families through shared ownership. The remaining eight will be affordable-rented homes for those currently on the Staffordshire Moorlands County Council waiting list.

Head of New Homes and Growth at Honeycomb Group, Marshall Fear, explains more:

“We know there is a shortage of affordable homes across the UK and specifically in Staffordshire so we want to do what we can to help. 

“New stats show there are people out there who have been waiting for truly affordable homes for a long time.

“There are also people who are desperately looking for affordable ways to get on the housing ladder and own their own home.

“This new development with a mix of affordable rent and shared ownership homes will help provide much-needed homes for those people and forms part of our strategy to build 210 new homes by 2024.”

New resident Jenna moved into one of the Cecilly Mills homes after an incredible three year wait.

“When I first came to see the apartment I was so overwhelmed with just how beautiful the place was. The quality of the home was brilliant everything was so modern, fresh and new and I instantly fell in love with the place.”

“I’d been waiting for a home of this quality for over three years! I’ve been here a month now and although I’m still settling in and making the place feel more me, I’m so proud to call it home.”

Staffs Housing, part of Honeycomb Group, have one home still available at Cecilly Mills. The home is available to buy through shared ownership at £92,250 for a 45% share.

Head over to Staffs Housing’s website to find out more about shared ownership eligibility and the remaining home here: www.staffshousing.org.uk/CecillyMills