Construction starts on new affordable homes in Okeford Fitzpaine

Award-winning housing association Aster Group has started construction on 27 new affordable homes in Okeford Fitzpaine.

Located in the heart of North Dorset in the Dorset Downs, the development called Comerwicke Fields will provide a mix of two, three and four bedroom houses, all with parking. The new homes, which will be for local residents or those with a strong connection to the area, will all be available on an affordable basis. Eight of the homes will be for social rent and the remaining 19 homes will be available to purchase through  shared ownership.

Shared ownership provides an affordable way onto the housing ladder. Buyers purchase a share of a property and pay rent on the remaining share. This reduces the size of the initial deposit required and if they want to, purchasers can buy more shares in their property (known as staircasing), eventually leading to outright home ownership.

Amanda Williams, chief investment officer at Aster, said: “The original planning permission for the site was for a proportion of the homes to be affordable, but keen to enable as many local residents the opportunity to rent or buy an affordable home, we decided to deliver the entire scheme on an affordable basis.

“The mix of properties, from two to four-bedroom houses means this development will cater to a range of people in the local community, from couples and families to the older generations too.”

 Okeford Fitzpaine is a quintessential English village surrounded by beautiful countryside. The village has a primary school, a post office and shop, a village museum, and a pub.

Following consultation with the Parish Council the development and the road have been given the name originally used for the plot in 1584. The design of the homes is in keeping with local heritage with decorative details incorporated into the frontage of each property. Soft landscaping is set to incorporate native planting and flowering lawns will be sown to promote insect life. 

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, portfolio holder for housing and community housing at Dorset Council, stated: “Dorset Council are pleased to see this affordable housing development start on site. Building these new properties will help to meet the need for good quality affordable homes. The mix of rented and shared ownership dwellings will help to ensure the sustainability of the local community and the provision shared ownership houses will give local people an opportunity to access home ownership.”

The homes are being built by AJC Group and will be managed by Aster Group.

AJC Group construction director Ben Peddie said: “We are delighted to be delivering 27 new affordable homes in the village of Okeford Fitzpaine, in partnership with Aster Group. We have been working very closely as a team through the planning and design stages, and are pleased to have now started onsite, with a view to delivering these homes for occupation in spring 2023.”

The new affordable homes at Okeford Fitzpaine are being built with funding from Homes England, the government’s housing agency’s Affordable Housing Programme.

 For further information on Aster Group visit www.aster.co.uk.