Barratt Homes and Thanet District Council celebrated a landmark agreement last week, with the first occupations taking place in the 23 affordable rented homes at Spitfire Green on New Haine Road in Ramsgate. To commemorate the occasion, Councillors and officers visited the development for a site tour on Friday 24th May to discuss further partnership opportunities with the housebuilder.
Thanet District Council recently acquired 23 new homes at Spitfire Green for its social housing register, with a further 18 homes expected to be handed over in the next 18 months. This purchase helps to address the immediate housing need in Thanet, and forms part of the council’s commitment to build or purchase at least 400 homes for affordable rent by 2027. Over 200 homes have now been acquired in Thanet, less than a year into the initiative.
Representatives from Thanet District Council included Councillor Helen Whitehead, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing; Councillor Debra Owen-Hughes; as well as officers from the council’s Housing team.
The visit comprised a tour of several properties that are now ready for occupation and concluded with a viewing of the housebuilder’s inaugural ‘Discovery House’ – a semi-built property with cutaway walls and ceilings. The Discovery House offers an insight into Barratt Kent’s fabric-first construction methods, and the Councillors saw at first hand the design and construction process that transforms blueprint into reality.
William Walsh, Managing Director for Barratt Kent, comments: “Partnerships between housebuilders and local authorities are crucial to addressing local housing need. Our latest agreement with Thanet District Council will deliver a total of 41 high quality, efficient and affordable homes for tenants on the social housing register. It was a great source of pride to invite Councillors and officers to Spitfire Green for an update on the progress of the housing here, and to enable them to see first hand the high build standards we apply to all homes at our development. We look forward to welcoming the first tenants over the coming days and weeks.”
Cllr Helen Whitehead, Cabinet Member for Housing for Thanet District Council, said: “I could not be prouder of the efforts of all involved. By actively acquiring new properties, we are providing secure and genuinely affordable homes for local people and this is a vital part of our role as a council.
“Having committed to building or buying at least 400 new homes within the first term of this administration for people on our housing register or living in temporary accommodation, I am delighted that we are already far ahead of our initial target, and already seeing people move into the first of these energy efficient homes.
“The Discovery House at Spitfire Green demonstrates both progress and vision in the explanation of building and energy saving processes. I welcome the educational, training and employment partnerships that can grow from this innovative approach.
“I look forward to seeing many more households in Thanet who have been waiting for a home, receiving tenancies and taking up residence at Spitfire Green.”
The agreement with Thanet District Council is just one of the measures that Barratt Kent is taking to create accessible housing at Spitfire Green. The housebuilder has just launched Kickstart, a Shared Ownership scheme, at the development, and last year it launched its first ever Discount Market Sale homes, which offered homes at a discounted value of 20% for those who live and work in Thanet. Barratt Kent also offers initiatives for key workers, and has recently launched an Own New – Rate Reducer scheme, offering lower mortgage rates for homebuyers.
