Press release

Work starts on affordable new homes for Milton Keynes

Jephson Homes Housing Association has started construction work on a new £1.26million development which will provide much-needed family homes for rent in Bletchley, Milton Keynes

The Association secured £390,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) towards the work in Buckingham Road, Bletchley, plus £150,000 from Recycled Capital Grant Funding (RCGF).  

Invited guests including Milton Keynes South-West MP Phyllis Starkey and representatives from Jephson, the HCA, developer Taylor French, architect CMI Consulting, Employers’ agent PJ Associates met on site yesterday (Thursday 18^th March) to mark the beginning of construction work.  

 A 1940s detached bungalow and garage have been demolished to make way for the six new homes which comprise two four-bedroom bungalows, three three-bedroom bungalows and one four bedroom detached house. The bungalows will be built to both wheelchair and Lifetime Homes standards. The development is due for completion in January 2011.  

William Philpott, Director for Jephson’s East Region, said: “This land was earmarked for housing and we are delighted to be able to take on the site to provide additional affordable housing for the region. There is a shortage of such housing in Bletchley and we are committed to providing affordable housing to enable people to live in the areas they desire.”  

Dr Starkey MP commented: “This is an excellent example of how this Government’s funding is providing affordable homes for local people and creating employment in the construction industry despite the worst global recession for 60 years. It is particularly welcome in Bletchley where there is simply not enough affordable housing to meet housing need.”  

Graham Hyslop from Milton Keynes Partnership – a committee of the Homes and Communities Agency said: “We are very pleased to be involved with this scheme and providing funding for much need affordable housing in Bletchley. This will be a high quality development suitable for residents with a variety of needs both now and in the future.”

Jephson has worked closely with developer Taylor French Developments and Milton Keynes Council on the development to increase the amount of affordable housing available in the region.  

Steve French, Managing Director of Taylor French, said: “We, at Taylor French, are very committed in continuing to forge a strong working relationship with Jephson Homes Housing Association, whereby we deliver good quality homes, on programme and within budget.  

We are looking forward to another successful project with Jephson that will deliver much needed affordable housing for the area and the people who desire to live there.”  

- Ends -

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact: Helen Carvalho, Communications Manager, Milton Keynes Partnership on 01908 353981 helen.carvalho@hca.gsx.gov.uk  

Milton Keynes Partnership created in June 2004 is responsible for growth, development and investment in the new city.  It is a committee of the Homes and Communities Agency, the newly formed housing and regeneration agency for England, and brings together Milton Keynes Council, Local Strategic Partnership representatives from the health, community and business sectors and independent representation.

1.Jephson Housing Association Group is responsible for over 16,000 affordable homes across the country.The Jephson Group comprises three Associations, all of which are not for profit industrial and provident societies registered with the Tenant Services Authority.  

2.The principal activity of the Group is the development and management of rented housing accommodation for those in most need.In addition, the Group provides assisted housing through low cost ownership schemes and is involved in the management of former properties that are now privately owned.  

3.The Homes and Communities Agency is the Government's national affordable homes agency, formerly known as the Housing Corporation. It is responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating nearly 2,000 housing associations that provide some two million homes across England. The HCA's £8.4 billion investment programme for 2008-11 is its biggest ever, set to fund at least 155,000 homes. Over 100,000 of these are for affordable rent and more than 50,000 for affordable sale through the Government's HomeBuy initiatives, helping people get a foot on the property ladder.    

For further information please contact Michelle Pearson, of Word Association, on 01455 614 333 or michelle@wordassociation.co.uk