Dudley Council has secured £245,000 of government money for affordable homes in Sedgley.

 

The Homes and Communities Agency, the national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England, has awarded the investment to the local authority to build 14 properties for rent.

 

The grant funding will go towards a £1.2m project to convert former care home Arcal Lodge, on Arcal Road, into three one- bedroom and three two-bedroom apartments, and eight bungalows, comprising of four one-bedroom and four two-bedroom homes.  All bungalows will have wheelchair access.

 

In addition to funding new homes, the council will use this scheme as an opportunity to create up to four new apprenticeship positions. 

 

A planning application for this development will be made shortly, and if approved, the scheme is due for completion in spring 2016.

 

This extra money comes on the back of the news, earlier this month, that Dudley Council has been granted permission to borrow an extra £6m to build 123 council homes across the borough, through the Local Growth Fund Housing Revenue Account Borrowing Programme.

 

Councillor Gaye Partridge, cabinet member for housing, said:

 

“This is great news as there is a real need in the borough to provide more homes that are better for older people and people with disabilities.  We are delighted to have secured the money at a time of reduced funding.  It means that despite the difficult economic situation there are new affordable homes for local people.”

 

Charlotte Hill, Head of Programmes and Performance at the HCA, Midlands said;  

 

“We know through working closely with Dudley Council that delivering much-needed affordable housing across the Borough is a priority and we are pleased to be supporting them through our Affordable Homes Programme. Our investment will also support local growth through the creation of apprenticeships, the safeguarding of construction jobs as well as benefitting local businesses.”