Citylife in Rugeley and Cannock Chase September October 2021

Housing Secretary
Visits Development
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Cannock Chase Council’s Deputy Leader, Councillor Bryan
Jones, welcomed the Secretary of State for Housing,
Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick to Cannock
during a visit to the town to see new homes being built.
Cannock Chase is among the first local authorities to take part in the
Government’s First Homes programme launched in May, as part of the
Phase 1 Pilot. The programme offers a minimum discount of 30 per cent
to first time buyers purchasing their first home.
The Secretary of State visited a development of 10 First Homes under
construction off Walkmill Lane in Bridgtown by Vistry Partnerships.
Walkmill Place is the second site in the country to feature First Homes.
The Council gave planning permission in 2018 for 116 homes to be
built on this site. As part of the S106 planning agreement 20 per cent
were to be provided as affordable housing with a mix of rented and
shared ownership homes.
As the development progressed with the involvement of a Registered
Provider, 58 of the new homes will now be available for rent or shared
ownership, which is in addition to the 10 First Homes.
The Council’s new Corporate Plan, which includes a focus on
supporting economic recovery post the pandemic, has an increase in
affordable housing for residents as one of its main priorities.
The Secretary of State was also able to meet the Council’s Portfolio
(l-r) James Warrington, Cllr Bryan
Jones, Cllr Adrienne Fitzgerald, Robert
Jenrick, Nirmal Samrai, and Bob Kean.
Holder for Housing, Councillor Adrienne Fitzgerald, Interim Managing
Director, Bob Kean, and Head of Housing and Partnerships, Nirmal
Samrai, as he toured the site.
He went on meet two management trainees employed by Vistry
Partnerships who are currently working on the development, Quantity
Surveyor, Ella Hodnett and Assistant Site Manager, Lee Callaghan, and
spent time meeting Jodie Heap and Antony Heap who took advantage of
the Government’s Help to Buy scheme to buy a home on the
development.
He ended his visit by planting a tree to mark the launch of First
Homes at Walkmill Place in association with Homes England, Cannock
Chase Council, Vistry Partnerships and the Ministry of Housing,
Communities and Local Government.
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