Ipswich is the fastest growing urban centre in the East of England but the Council is continuing to press for a large number of the new homes being built here to be affordable. Affordable Housing is crucial to helping meet the Council’s goals to encourage sustainable economic growth and to strengthen the Ipswich community as a whole, and the communities within the Town.
The Council’s new Affordable Housing programme shows 155 affordable homes were built 2005/2006 - the highest number in one year since 1994/95. That figure is set to rise to 231 in 2007/2008.
The Council works with a number of housing associations to help meet the need of Ipswich families. Sites include the Waterfront, Ravenswood and the new shared ownership scheme currently being built near Morrisons’ supermarket in north-west Ipswich.
Councillor Steven Wells, the Borough Council’s Housing portfolio-holder, welcomed the upward trend.
“The figure for 2007/2008 is approaching 30% of all new housing developments. This isn’t going to solve all the problems but it is a big step in the right direction.”