“It’s vital we get right balance of affordable homes”

The district accounted for nearly two-thirds of new homes built in Buckinghamshire over the last year, with more new properties going up than in Birmingham and Nottingham combined.

1,100 new homes have been finished in the Vale over the last 12 months, contributing greatly to the 1,740 overall in the county. At 1.5 per cent of the Vale’s total housing stock of 74,910, the figure makes the district the sixth fastest growing area out of 326 local authorities.

Another great achievement has been the fact that during 2014/15 more than 400 affordable homes were built in the Vale. These are homes for residents whose needs are not met by the market – providing rented homes below local market prices and access to shared equity homes to buy. Of the homes built, 122 have been made available for shared ownership. Many other first time buyers are in new homes thanks to the government’s Help to Buy scheme.

All of the affordable housing provision at Buckingham Park, Aylesbury, has now been delivered, and a significant number of affordable homes were completed on the Berryfields site also in Aylesbury. In Buckingham, 66 new homes were completed on Windsor Park, by Paradigm Housing Association, with more in the pipeline.

Work continues this year and we’re aiming to achieve a minimum of 125 affordable homes. 26 of these are currently under construction as part of the Catalyst development at Bearbrook, in Aylesbury.

Aylesbury Vale District Council works with its housing association partners, who manage or sell these properties, to ensure that communities benefit from new and refurbished facilities.

Walton Court Centre, regenerated by the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust, is an example of delivering new affordable homes alongside the refurbishment of existing homes, shops and the Healthy Living Centre.

We’re fully aware that thousands of new homes will be required in Aylesbury Vale in the future to meet the needs of a growing community. It’s vital that we have the right balance of affordable homes to attract people to the district and provide for future generations.