Steam Court gets its first residents

The first residents are moving into new flats in North Hykeham, which are the first homes developed by a new company set up expressly to respond to local housing need within North Kesteven.

Lafford Homes Ltd is a new housing company wholly-owned by North Kesteven District Council, marking a fresh approach towards meeting local housing demand and unlocking more housing choice by building more homes for private let at market-level rent.Steam Court, off Station Road in North Hykeham is a well-designed, quality community of 33 two-bedroom flats comprising a range of layout options. Twenty seven of these are built for the private rental market, with four already let.

The other six are available to meet affordable housing need, with North Kesteven nominating tenants from the authority’s social housing list.

In this way Lafford Homes is responding to need within both the private and affordable rental sectors.

Phil Roberts, Cllr Richard Wright and David Chambers outside Steam Court
Phil Roberts, Cllr Richard Wright and David Chambers outside Steam Court

As shareholders of Lafford Homes, North Kesteven District Council’s Executive Board joined Lafford directors, local councillors, construction partners Lindum BMS and guests to mark the project’s completion.

Council Leader, Cllr Richard Wright said that as the first of many schemes, Steam Court ‘marks a departure from the Council’s established excellence in meeting the current and future needs of our District by building through our Housing Revenue Account as we have done with almost 200 new homes since 2010.

“Market homes make up an important part of the housing market and it was clear to us that enhanced provision of much-needed rental apartments was needed in an area of otherwise unmet demand on to the private-rentals market as well as more accommodation generally for North Hykeham.”

As a stalled brownfield site previously used for light industrial use, the Steam Court site proved an attractive opportunity for Lafford Homes.

Lafford Homes operates through its own board of directors, using existing building firms to fulfil its projects, and seeks to raise the bar as an exemplar landlord, in terms of rental standards across the board.

Lindum Group Chairman David Chambers said it had been rewarding to be engaged in a new partnership approach dedicated to community enhancement through the creation of  much-needed private and affordable homes like this complements this ambition.

Lafford Homes aims to bring more housing choice to North Kesteven, with homes in places that people want; linked to the facilities they need at a fair price.

To find out more about Lafford Homes visit dev.laffordhomes.co.uk