'Ambitious' plan for 580 council homes launched

A local authority has said it plans to build 580 new council homes in the next six years.

A Somerset Council report described the plan for the county as its "most ambitious council house building programme for many years".

There are currently 12,500 registrations on Homefinder, the system people have to use if they want to apply for a social housing property in Somerset.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, from Somerset Council, said: "We are determined to ensure that every resident, regardless of age or income, can enjoy the security and dignity of a safe home in Somerset."

Somerset Council's ruling executive agreed a new Housing Development Strategy with Homes in Somerset, the largest social housing provider in Somerset, at a meeting on Wednesday.

The local authority said it planned to build 580 "high-quality, energy-efficient council homes over the next six years".

Most are clustered around Taunton, Bridgwater and the M5 corridor.

Schemes already completed under the plan include Minehead's Rainbow Way Development and Taunton's Lavinia House scheme.

Others in development are Penlea in Bridgwater and a new development of 230 properties in North Woolaway, Taunton.

The local authority is currently responsible for around 10,000 council homes across the county - of which around 6,000 are managed directly in-house.

But as the local authority continues its transformation programme, it plans to move all management responsibilities to Homes in Somerset, an arms-length social housing provider owned by Somerset Council.

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