Meeting the need for affordable homes in
Uppingham
The market town of Uppingham is a desirable place to live; its
prime location and attractive buildings keep house prices and
private renting costs consistently high. Consultation with local
people showed a need for extra affordable homes in the area. So
Spire Homes worked in partnership with Rutland County Council,
Uppingham Town Council and Westleigh Developments to find ways of
meeting this need.
A site off Seaton Road showed potential -
being in a beautiful rural location, but with easy access to the
town centre. Spire was keen to create a close sense of community
among residents. Scheme design, layout and sustainability
were also key, to ensure sympathy with the location. The
properties, of timber frame construction, were also designed with
mobility in mind; wider door openings, easy access to downstairs
cloakrooms and front and rear level access to homes are key
features.
Spire Homes successfully applied for a £30,000
grant from the Department of Trade and Industry to maximise
energy-efficiency. Two-thirds of the properties benefit from solar
water heating, which will achieve savings of up to 50 per cent on
residents’ energy bills. The first phase of development was
completed in May 2009. It includes 29 rented homes and six shared
ownership units. The shared ownership homes are available to buy at
£37,500, based on a 25 per cent share, with buyers paying monthly
rent on the remaining 75 per cent.
The development has helped people from local
communities to stay within the area, rather than having to move
away due to high housing costs. Following the success of the first
phase, a further seven properties are now being developed.
Please click on the images to enlarge