THOSE in the market for affordable homes in the Bridgwater area suddenly have a host of options after the ribbon was cut at two affordable housing schemes containing a total of 44 properties.

The new schemes include 20 new affordable homes in Rhode Lane at the former Black Horse Inn site, 24 homes at Puriton Gate, and construction has now started on 18 affordable properties on land off Nokoto Drive in Stockmoor.

The new homes at Rhode Lane were built by LiveWest and EG Carter & Co Ltd meaning a once derelict site has been brought back to life.

LiveWest development manager Sharron Taylor said: “This is a truly affordable housing scheme for local people where many residents are finding themselves priced out of the market. There 20 homes bring a renewed vibrancy to the area."

Over the past year the site has been transformed to provide four three-bedroom houses and 16 two-bedroom houses all for rent.

The ceremony provided an opportunity for all members of the design and construction team to celebrate the prestigious project.

Duncan Harvey, affordable housing policy and development manager at Sedgemoor District Council, said: “This scheme is an excellent example of how a brownfield site can be redeveloped to provide much-needed affordable housing.

"To achieve completion ahead of schedule is testament to the hard work and strength of our relationship with E G Carter and LiveWest."

The scheme was also made possible thanks to funding from EDF, designed to offset the requirements of Hinkley C's temporary workforce.

David Eccles, head of stakeholder engagement at EDF, said: “We are delighted to see projects such the Black Horse development completed and it is great to see local families start to move in to their new homes.

“I have heard people say that the new site at Hinkley is causing problems for housing locally, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

"In fact we are a big part of the new house building programme for this area and have contributed £5 million to local councils to help them build new homes."

Meanwhile a new Rentplus and Tamar Housing development in Puriton offering 24 rent-to-buy homes officially opened its doors this week.

Steve Collins, CEO of developer Coln Residential said the new properties will 'enhance and sustain a vibrant community' in Puriton.

The 24 affordable properties which are being made available for rent-to-buy that includes five three-bedroom homes, and 19 two-bedroom properties, and all with enclosed rear gardens and allocated parking.

Sedgemoor District Council leader Cllr Duncan McGinty hailed the new development at Puriton Gate, saying: “The council is delighted to be associated with this housing project, which is helping the authority to realise its ambitious plans to accelerate the pace of house building across the district.

“We have every confidence Coln Residential are building high quality attractive homes, which includes 24 new affordable homes equating to 40 per cent of the overall development,” he said.

“Not only are we providing an impressive number of affordable homes, but we are excited to be piloting the Rentplus affordable housing tenure. We know many people aspire to buy their home, but often cannot because of not having the deposit. We believe Rentplus product will help people faced with this obstacle eventually realise their hope of buying somewhere at a price they can afford, in an attractive locality. We anticipate high demand for these new homes,” said Cllr. McGinty.

And finally, after years of uncertainty, residents can finally see new homes being built on land off of Nokoto Drive in Stockmoor.

Those involved in the project held an official ground-breaking event to mark the start of the project to deliver 18 new flats and houses which will be available to rent from next autumn.

Selina White, chief executive at Magna Housing, said: “Our purpose is to help people meet their housing needs so we are really pleased that we will be letting all 18 homes at a rent which is less than people can expect to pay on the open market.

"This is 16 more than the original planning consent two years ago where only two were due to be let at a reduced rent."