Press Releases

Tuesday, 09th August 2005

Striving to make housing in Milton Keynes more affordable

Anyone on a moderate income trying to buy or rent a home in Milton Keynes will know just how hard it is to find a decent home that they can afford.

This week, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has announced those short listed for its ‘Design For Manufacture’ competition (commonly known as the ‘£60k house’), aimed at encouraging developers and housing associations to build high-quality homes with a construction cost of £60,000, whilst using more efficient construction methods, such as off-site manufacture, to increase the speed and efficiency of housing supply.

MK’s largest housing association, Midsummer, is already ahead of the game, having already nearly completed 85 homes at Medbourne that meet the broad criteria of the £60k competition. Maggie Sherlock, Business Development Director at Midsummer Housing Association explains:

“Working with English partnerships, Jarvis Contracting and PRP Architects, we have built 85 affordable homes for rent and sale using three different types of off-site manufacture from local suppliers, PACE and Terrapin.”

“These homes are well designed, attractive and very energy efficient – a far cry from that draughty portacabin that many of us remember from our school days!” said Maggie Sherlock.

Midsummer gets over 2,000 applicants each year for its affordable homes, so speed of construction is very important. Feedback from those moving into their new homes at Medbourne has been very positive.