Hellens Residential is celebrating its 5th year in business with the launch of a new bungalow scheme in County Durham. This latest development takes the company’s total number of affordable homes in the region to over 100.
The registered provider of social housing has announced the completion of 11 new two-bedroom bungalows at Marley Fields in the village of Wheatley Hill, which have been built by Dere Street Homes.
The new development follows the success of a number of similar schemes delivered by Hellens in the Durham area, including rental bungalows at The Limes in Coxhoe and a development of 12 Rent to Buy houses at Church View in Trimdon. Hellens Residential also completed 11 affordable rental homes in Wynyard in July 2018 and is due to complete a further 8 Rent to Buy homes in Carlton, Stockton in December; providing a combination of two-bedroom houses and bungalows following delivery of a successful first phase last year on the same development.
Kate Hellens, managing director of Hellens Residential said: “We are delighted to have grown our portfolio of affordable homes to over 100. This marks a significant milestone for the business since it launched 5 years ago. Our main motivation is to be able to help local people, who are currently priced out of the housing market and struggle to find high quality housing in an area where they want to live.
“The Wheatley Hill bungalows are available to residents or employees of the local Durham area for affordable ownership to help people get a foot on the housing ladder and we welcome viewings at our open day on Saturday 10th November between 9am and 1pm.”
The newly developed bungalows at Marley Fields, Wheatley Hill have been built to a high specification and each comprise a lounge, kitchen-diner, utility, two bedrooms, family bathroom and landscaped gardens along with allotted car parking.
Kate Hellens continued: “A recent similar development attracted nearly 50 applicants for each bungalow, demonstrating the huge level of demand. We are now looking to increase our portfolio by over 50% in the next 12 months and look forward to working with local councils to deliver more affordable homes where they are needed most.”
Affordable housing provides homes at prices significantly below the prevailing market value for people who are unable to afford to buy or rent homes on the open market and can be provided on a rental or homeownership basis.
Allan Sanderson, a tenant of a Hellens Residential property at Foundry Close in Coxhoe said: “Hellens have helped us immensely by offering us this brand-new bungalow in our retirement. It gives us great contentment to be able to live in a property where we have the peace of mind of a secured and affordable rent at this time in our lives. We are enjoying living in a good neighbourhood, with the benefit of views across fields to the rear, good sized gardens and double car parking, its compact size makes it easy to maintain domestically.”
Details of the bungalows for affordable home ownership are available from Hellens Residential at www.hellensresidential.co.uk or on (0191) 5946666.