A HOUSING provider yesterday cut the ribbon on 10 affordable apartments at a major Kendal housing site and announced plans to unveil 39 more homes.

The provision is part of Strawberry Fields, a 148-dwelling development being built off Oxenholme Road by property developer Oakmere Homes, whose head office is in Kendal.

Daniel Griffiths, director of development at Progress Housing Group, said: “We are delighted to have worked in partnership with Oakmere Homes and South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) to deliver 49 (affordable) homes on the Strawberry Fields site.

“The affordable homes acquired by us, as part of the section 106 agreement with SLDC, have criteria that stipulate that the homes will be made available to people living in the local area or who have connections in the local area.

“This means that more local people will have the opportunity to continue living, building careers and raising their families in Kendal, whereas they may not have previously been able to due to the high property prices in the area.”

He added: “Our affordable rent homes on the site have rents which are set lower than market rent and the shared ownership homes, which are due for completion in July 2020, will provide opportunities to acquire a property in stages, making it more affordable to access home ownership.”

Yesterday’s unveiling was presided over by Cllr Jonathan Brook, SLDC portfolio holder for housing and innovation, who said the “delivery of more affordable homes to rent” was a “key target” of the council plan.

“We are especially keen to give our young people the opportunity to live and work in the areas where they have grown up. Providing affordable homes on sites like this demonstrates our ongoing commitment to this objective,” he said.

The council’s aim, set in 2014, is to see 1,000 new affordable homes for rent completed by 2025.

Alexander Bourne, commercial director for Oakmere Homes, said: “As a local developer, we work with local engineers, tradesmen and suppliers to help stimulate the local economy. Our developments, along with others, make sizeable contributions towards local infrastructure projects including funding for public open spaces, highways and schools.”