Asfordby development of 55 homes hits high point

A topping out ceremony has been held at a development of 55 new homes for the community in Asfordby.

The Willows development, which is a partnership between Midlands-based developer Deeley Homes and social housing and care organisation emh, has hit its high point.

It is three miles from Melton Mowbray and will provide a mix of market sale, social rent and shared ownership homes – with the first homes set to be available in 2022.

Fifteen of the homes will be sold privately by Deeley Homes, with emh developing its first market sale units at the development.

More than two-thirds of the houses will be classed as affordable homes and contribute to meeting key housing targets in the area.

Eleanor Deeley, deputy managing director at Deeley Group, said: “This is a landmark moment for our development in partnership with emh near Asfordby.

“We’re excited to be launching 15 market sale homes alongside the two types of affordable homes and this approach means that The Willows will cater to a wide range of people in the community.

“Work started on site in February and the project remains on track to be able to welcome residents in 2022.

“The development has been designed with the needs of the area as its priority and will deliver much needed market sale homes and crucial affordable housing options for people living in the Melton Borough Council area.

“As part of the development we have been making a range of local infrastructure improvements and have enhanced the biodiversity of the site by creating wildflower meadows, bird boxes, bat boxes and hedgehog highways.”

Social housing and care organisation emh is a strategic partner of Homes England, giving it access to £172m in grant funding. Under a flexible development programme, emh aims to deliver 600 new homes a year for the next five years.

Chris Jones, executive director of Development at emh, said: “Strong partnerships help us deliver a diverse range of housing across the East Midlands, and we are delighted that residents will soon be moving into our first homes completed with Deeley Homes.

“Every one of our developments has made a lasting impact in the local community, and we are excited to see these affordable rent and shared ownership homes contributing to meeting the housing aspirations of people in the Melton Borough Council area.”