Mixed communities
“Mixed communities” means building housing estates where there are a mixture of houses and flats, and a mixture of rented and owner-occupied homes. It shouldn’t be possible to tell from the outside whether a house is rented or owned.
The Council is clearing council owned properties to make way for new homes, built by private developers. Rented or shared properties are to be managed by Housing Associations.
Affordability
“Affordable housing” means housing where rents or sale prices are less than full market prices. It can be social housing (e.g. council or housing association rents) or housing to rent or buy privately at less than the market level.
What is affordable will depend on local incomes and house prices.
Sheffield City Council’s policy is that affordable housing is “that which is accessible to people whose incomes are insufficient to enable them to afford adequate housing locally on the open market.”
Shared ownership
Sharing the ownership of a house is a new idea. You can buy part of the house and get a mortgage to help if need be. But the other part is owned by a Housing Association, and you may have to pay rent on this. The idea is that people with lower incomes can get onto the property ladder.
Where will the new homes be?
Earldom Road and Catherine Road – an Arches Development.
23 already built, 8 for rent, 15 for shared ownership.
Wensley – a South Yorkshire Housing Association Development.
22 have received planning permission – 7 will be for rent, 8 for shared ownership, 7 for outright sale.
Earl Marshal and Skinnerthorpe
63 planned – Although Earl Marshal flats are almost empty, Skinnerthorpe is years away from demolition. 10 of these will be affordable.
Woodside
200 or more could be built here. 36 of these will be affordable.
Ellesmere
50 planned on the site of the now demolished old people’s home. Possibly 8 affordable homes.
Catherine Street
50 planned – Possibly 8 affordable homes.
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Approximate total new homes 400, of which 100 will be classed as affordable. This replaces approximately 800 demolished homes, around 600 of which were Council rented properties.