Dover District Council’s (DDC) new administration has pledged to build 200 environmentally friendly council homes every year in the district.
Since 2021, almost 117 affordable homes have been built by the council. This includes homes for social rent, interim accommodation and shared ownership.
Now, new leader Cllr Kevin Mills and Cllr Pam Brivio, cabinet member for social housing, say they want to do even more to provide high-quality council accommodation for local people at a time when the cost of living continues to bite.
A key focus of their social housing plan will be sustainability, with new homes packed full of green technology, aimed at increasing energy efficiency and contributing to the council’s net zero carbon target.
Cllr Brivio said: “We are planning to deliver affordable homes for local families with a focus on green technology to increase energy efficiency and bring down the cost of bills.
“It is important that we are providing a high standard of homes for our residents at rent they can afford.
“We know how hard it can be to find good, affordable homes and it is crucial that we as a council are helping to make it easier for people who face the risk of either having nowhere to live or paying excessive rent.”
Local families recently moved into new homes on Napchester Road built by DDC.
The 26 homes, constructed by Jenner on behalf of the council, form part of the Whitfield Urban Expansion and are for social rent for those on the housing waiting list.
They have been built with green technology including air source heat pumps, which take the warmth from the air outside and use it to heat the home.
One of the houses is wheelchair accessible, having been specially designed for a family of five with additional accessibility requirements.
Two flats are also wheelchair accessible, with adjustable kitchen worktops, a wet room and wide doorways, both with one bedroom.
The properties, built using 75% local labour and apprenticeships, are a mix of two, three and four-bed homes, and one-bed flats.
Ella Brocklebank, head of communications and business development at Jenner, said: “It is always a pleasure to work with the team at Dover District Council as such a proactive, collaborative client who adopt a pragmatic approach to cost-effective delivery, yet with sustainable thinking at heart and certainly never compromising on quality.
“Their housing ambition is bold and Jenner is delighted to have played an integral part in their journey to deliver essential, affordable new homes to the district.”
£350 in prizes
DDC recently launched its latest Tenant Housing Survey giving tenants the chance to say what it’s like living in a DDC property. It takes no more than five minutes to complete and there are three prizes totalling £350 up for grabs.
Go to www.dover.gov.uk/Housing/Housing-for-Tenants/Get-Involved/Housing-Survey.aspx to take part.