Legal News

Basingstoke Council and local housing association (HA) Sovereign have joined forces in a venture which could see 12 new affordable homes built close to Basingstoke town centre.

The council says that its has been working with Sovereign to combine their land, skills and investment, in order to transform underused areas into new and affordable homes across the borough.

The first of these schemes will be discussed by cabinet at a council meeting on Tuesday, 15 March – where it will be decided whether to provide council land around a Sovereign-owned garage site at the corner of Lower Brook Street and May Street in Basingstoke.

By approving the transfer of the council-owned land at no cost, Sovereign would be able to build four two-bedroom houses and four one-bedroom flats to tenants at an affordable rent – as well as four two-bedroom houses for shared ownership, subject to planning permission.

The go-ahead for the proposal would support the council’s drive to enable more affordable housing to be built in the borough.

The council says the inclusion of council land with Sovereign’s would increase the number of homes that can be built – and provide a comprehensive design solution for the proposed development site.

If the application is approved, the flats and some of the houses would have frontages on to Lower Brook Street, while the remainder of the houses would front onto May Street.

There will be off-road car parking with about 15 spaces for residents and visitors – the affordable homes will also include rear gardens and small front garden areas.

Basingstoke Council's Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, Councillor John Izett, said:

“This proposed new housing scheme is a great example of the council as land owner, working in partnership with a housing association, to make better use of land we own to support services for local people.

“The proposed affordable homes here would provide much needed accommodation for single people, couples and small families.”

Sovereign’s Asset and Regeneration Director Roger Keeling added:

“The council and Sovereign are both major landowners in the town – but these pockets of land can be fragmented and so we’re able to do much more when we work together on sites such as this.

“It’s been great working with the council and while this is just the first step –
and, of course, any development is subject to planning – bringing together our land, investment and skills, we’re able to build more homes and more much-needed affordable homes across the borough.”

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise companies and individuals on planning consents and appeals, including advising on commercial developments or self-builds.

The Duncan Lewis housing department also advises landlords and public sector or private sector tenants on a wide range of housing matters – including right to rent checks, landlord’s obligations under the Housing Act, disrepair of rented accommodation, Landlord and Tenant disputes, tenancy agreements and unlawful eviction.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and our housing law solicitors can also advise on Local Authority housing and council’s obligation to re-house.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.