This week saw Connexus hand over the keys to 24 new affordable homes to residents in Bishops Castle, South Shropshire. The Oak Meadow development makes good on Connexus’ promise to deliver high-quality, affordable housing to rural communities.
Connexus worked with the Bishops Castle Town Council and Shropshire Council to ensure that the new development responded to the town’s housing need. The Town Council had identified the need for affordable housing as a means to retain young people and families in Bishops Castle, a struggle for many rural communities. Shropshire Council’s housing enablers then identified the site. This partnership between Connexus and the local community attracted the attention of Robert Jenrick MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who visited the site back in August 2019.
Oak Meadow contains a mix of properties for affordable rent (available via the Home Point online system) and shared ownership, a Government-backed scheme where buyers can purchase a share of their home. Connexus worked closely with construction contractor J Harper & Sons Ltd to build homes that are energy efficient and future-fit. Every home is fitted with an innovative Mitsubishi air source heat pump, absorbing heat from the air outside to heat radiators and hot water while keeping energy bills low.
"Working together with Connexus has brought much-needed affordable housing to the rural community here in Bishops Castle, in the footprint of the Shropshire Hills. We look forward to partnering with Connexus again."
Simon Deakin, Construction Director at J. Harper & Sons Ltd.
In a time of economic uncertainty for many, new affordable development like Oak Meadow can be a real boost to rural communities. As this uncertainty continues, high-quality affordable housing will prove to be more important than ever, giving some sense of security to new residents and boosting the local economy through construction and longer-term economic activity.
