Construction has started on 17 new council houses which will provide new homes for local people in Basford.

Nottingham City Homes (NCH) who act as the City Council’s development agent for new build Council housing, will build the homes using their own in-house team of local tradespeople, on waste ground off Tunstall Drive, on the Heathfield estate.

The development comprises five two-bed houses and 12 one-bed apartments. All will be built to high energy efficiency standards and offer warm, secure and affordable modern homes that will go to Nottingham people on the City Council’s waiting list.

The development is expected to be ready to let by early in 2021.  

These new homes are the latest of the Building a Better Nottingham developments in the north of the city, after planning permission was approved last year. So far, the Build a Better Nottingham programme has provided almost 600 new council homes for local people, with 46 more expected this year.

Nick Murphy, Chief Executive for Nottingham City Homes, said: “This is an important development for NCH, as our own skilled in-house team will be providing jobs for local people and building these homes. It’s important that we invest in new council houses in Basford, giving local people affordable, warm and secure homes. Our waiting list is growing and we want to continue working with the council to invest in new homes.”

Cllr Linda Woodings, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage at Nottingham City Council, said: “Nottingham has a number of different types of housing needs. The site at Tunstall Drive provides an opportunity to develop attractive, well-managed smaller social homes for rent, which will help meet local demand for Nottingham people on the housing waiting list.

“Developing smaller homes on sites like this are ideal for smaller families and couples, and also allows tenants who are living in larger properties and looking to downsize to do so, freeing up much-needed family housing for those who need it”.

“With an increasing number of people on Nottingham’s Council house waiting list, this development will also help towards the Council pledge to build or buy 1,000 new Council or Social homes for rent over the next four years.”