Tenants "Couldn't wait" to move into new council home in Cam
Published: Wednesday, 26 July, 2017
Fourteen new homes for rent and shared ownership have been completed on the site of a former car park in Chapel Street, Cam, providing much needed housing in the town.
Speller Metcalfe built the homes as part of Stroud District Council’s new homes programme to deliver over 200 new affordable homes across the district by March 2018. The site in Cam is a mix of one, two and three bedroom homes, and was completed in just over a year.
Nine of the homes are being rented by the council for affordable rent with the remaining five reserved for shared ownership.
Daniel and Samantha Matthew have moved into a two bedroom council house in Chapel Place with their two children Ruby, aged two and 10 month old Evie.
"When we walked into the house for the first time I burst into tears – it was like a palace,” said Samantha.
"We moved in the same day we signed the tenancy – we just couldn’t wait to start living here. We had been bidding on HomeseekerPlus for about 18 months and it was soul destroying to miss out on properties week after week, but it’s all worth it now and we wouldn’t change this house for the world. We still can’t believe how lucky we are."
Norberto McBride, Construction Manager for developer, Speller Metcalfe said:
"It’s fantastic to see the residents’ positive reaction to their new homes. The new development will have a tangible benefit to the local community as it meets the current demand for affordable housing."
Councillor Mattie Ross, chair of Stroud District Council’s housing committee added:
"I’m delighted that the Matthew family are enjoying their new home. This scheme is part of a five year, £19.5million investment by Stroud District Council to build over 200 new homes across the district."
Stroud District Council is the only local authority in Gloucestershire which still owns and manages council houses, with the others having transferred them into other social housing organisations. Schemes have now been completed in Minchinhampton, Leonard Stanley, Littlecombe, Stroud, The Corriett in Cam, Coaley and Berkeley.