The first residents have begun moving into their new homes at Ellwood Road in Coleford, marking an important milestone for an £11 million affordable housing development that will provide much needed homes for local people.
Platform Housing Group is delivering 47 affordable homes at the development in partnership with Edenstone Group, Forest of Dean District Council and Homes England.
The development comprises 24 homes for affordable rent, 19 shared ownership homes and four Rent to Buy properties, with all homes expected to be occupied by November.
Supported by £4 million of funding from Homes England through Platform’s strategic partnership, every property has been designed to be energy efficient and future ready, with gas free heating provided by air source heat pumps.
Among the first residents to move into the estate is local mum April Jenkins, who has finally found a permanent home after months of uncertainty following a no fault eviction from her privately rented property.
April, who moved into her new home with her two children, said the move had been ‘an absolute lifesaver’ and would provide the stability her family desperately needed.
Another family beginning a new chapter at their Old Meadow address are Faye and Steve Hopkins and their four children. After spending nine months sleeping on their sofa so their children could have bedrooms they needed, the couple say their affordable rented home has already transferred family life, particularly for their daughter Phoenix, who has complex additional needs.
The development has been designed to help meet the growing demand for affordable housing across the Forest of Dean, enabling local people to remain close to their families, schools, workplaces and support networks.
Gerraint Oakley, Chief Growth and Development Officer at Platform Housing Group said:
“Watching the first customers collect their keys and begin making these houses their homes is always one of the most rewarding moments of any development.
“Ellwood Road is about much more than building new homes. It’s about giving local people the opportunity to stay within their community, providing families with stability and creating the foundations for brighter futures.
“April’s and Faye and Steve’s stories perfectly illustrate why affordable housing is so important. Every family’s circumstances are different, but having a safe, secure and affordable home gives people the confidence to move forward with their lives.
“We’re proud to have delivered these much needed homes in partnership with Homes England, Edenstone Group and Forest of Dean District Council.”
Mark Griffiths, Contracts Manager at Edenstone Group said:
“We’re delighted to see families beginning to move into the Coleford development and to watch this new neighbourhood come to life.
“Working collaboratively with Platform Housing Group, Forest of Dean District Council and Homes England has enabled us to deliver high quality, energy efficient homes that will make a lasting difference for local people.
“It’s especially rewarding to hear stories like April’s and Faye and Steve’s, which demonstrate the real impact that affordable housing can have on people’s lives.”
Ailsa Yeomans Evans, Head of Affordable Housing Delivery at Homes England said:
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to live in a quality home they can afford, close to the people and places that matter most to them.
“Through our strategic partnership with Platform Housing Group, we’re helping to increase the supply of affordable homes across the region while supporting sustainable communities.
“It’s wonderful to see the first residents moving in and beginning the next chapter of their lives.”
The development has been built on land in Coleford to provide a mix of affordable housing options for local people. Alongside affordable rented homes, the development includes shared ownership properties and Rent to Buy homes, helping to meet a range of housing needs within the Forest of Dean.
The development also supports Platform Housing Group’s commitment to delivering high quality, energy efficient homes, with every property benefitting from low carbon heating technology through air source heat pumps.
By November, all 47 properties at the Ellwood Road are expected to be occupied, creating a brand new community where dozens of local families will have the opportunity to put down roots and build brighter futures.
Matt Bishop, MP for the Forest of Dean said:
“Developments like this are incredibly important for our local communities, providing high quality, affordable housing that allow people to stay close to their families, schools and support networks.
“Hearing stories like April’s and Faye and Steve’s brings home the real difference these homes make. They’re not simply new houses; they’re giving local families the stability, security and opportunity to build a brighter future.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved in delivering this development and the positive impact these new homes will have for local people.”