TEN new affordable homes have opened as part of a £1.5million scheme on a former disused industrial estate in Chard.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony held earlier this week saw the opening of Rosebank in Millfield.

The 10 homes were developed by Stonewater in partnership with South Somerset District Council and Titan Homes.

The Rosebank development is at Garner Close and offers a mixture of five two-bedroom, two three-bedroom and one four-bedroom houses each with private back gardens.

There are also two two-bedroom apartments and all properties are available for affordable rent.

Jonathan Layzell, Stonewater’s executive director for development, said: “The average asking price for a home in South Somerset is now £226,503, ten times the average local salary, while private sector rents are almost a third of local workers’ take home pay.

“Many people, particularly young families who support local services and businesses in the area, are being priced out of their community because housing is simply too expensive.

“We hope that these new affordable homes will go some way to tackling the housing shortage in the area and help more local people find a good quality home close to their friends, family and workplace, at a price they can truly afford.”

Stonewater manages around 1,000 properties across the district. Two other completed schemes in Chard include 56 Stonewater homes for affordable rent and shared ownership in Great Western Road, and the recent renovation and conversion of the former Working Men’s Club at 46 Fore Street into five flats for affordable rent.

Ric Pallister, leader of South Somerset District Council says: “Matching Housing availability to local need, especially our key businesses in Chard, is crucial to the long-term sustainability of the second largest town in South Somerset.

"Yet again, Stonewater has stepped up to the mark in delivering some superb new family homes and done it on brownfield land close to the town centre and main employers.

"Through its White paper, the Government has now decided that housing is its top priority as need keeps rising.

“Working together in true partnership, Stonewater and the District Council have created a scheme which is an excellent example of South Somerset rising positively to that national challenge.”