More Garage Sites to be Developed for Rented Homes by Conservative Council

Up to 45 new rented homes could be developed on disused garage sites across Tamworth, in the second phase of an ambitious project to create much-needed affordable housing in the borough.

Earlier this year, Conservative controlled Tamworth Borough Council approved plans to build 20 affordable rented homes on former garage sites in Leyfields, in partnership with Bromford Housing Group.  Another 19 are set to go before the planning committee later this summer.

Now, further sites in Gillway, Kettlebrook, Wilnecote and Glascote have been identified for the development of up to 45 affordable rented homes, this time in partnership with Waterloo Housing Association.

The latest plan is the second phase of a Tamworth Borough Council project to develop 26 underused garage sites across the borough.  In total, this is expected to provide up to 90 new affordable rented homes.

Cllr Michael Greatorex, Cabinet member for Public Housing & Vulnerable People, said, “The redevelopment of these under-used garage sites will allow us, working together with Waterloo Housing Association, to increase the supply of much-needed affordable rented housing in Tamworth.

“The demolition of the underused garages and building of new homes will also have a positive effect on the local environment, as well as freeing up resources to invest in the remaining garage sites across the borough and bringing more investment into Tamworth.”

As of May this year, there were 2,062 people on the Housing Register in Tamworth, while in the year 2012/2013; Tamworth Borough Council was able to make 303 allocations to rented homes from either the local authority of registered providers.

Further demand for the limited supply of affordable rented homes is likely to arise as a result of Welfare Benefit Reform, with an additional 139 households affected by the reforms seeking to move to smaller accommodation.