Housing Minister Stephen Williams MP was keen to hear how the Government’s Help to Buy initiative is assisting purchasers when he visited Linden Homes’ Home@Heartlands development in Redruth.
Mr Williams toured the new development, where almost a third (30 per cent) of sales have been made through the scheme, met a family who had been able to buy their first home using Help to Buy and discussed on-site training opportunities with an apprentice.
The Minister was also keen to learn more about the energy-efficient new homes (Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes) which will reduce energy usage and have a positive impact on utility bills for all residents.
Housing Minister Stephen Williams said: “It was great to meet the Czunys family, who with thanks to Help to Buy are now in their new home, joining 53,000 fellow new homeowners across the country.
“Home@Heartlands shows that the scheme is getting Britain building, with housebuilders like Linden Homes building more sustainable and affordable housing, which is helping get many more people onto the property ladder as a direct result.”
Mr Williams was given a guided tour by Linden Homes’ regional managing director for the south west, Nigel Palmer. They discussed issues including apprenticeships, skills, and the use of local firms and labour.
The minister also took the time to visit Home@Heartlands residents Billy, Lucy and Erica Czunys, first-time buyers for whom Help to Buy was a crucial factor in securing their three-bedroom end-terrace house. It is now approximately £100 a month cheaper for them to own their house than to rent another three bedroom house in Redruth.
To date, over 1,000 reservations have been made across Linden Homes’ developments nationwide using Help to Buy, including 119 in the south west. Its figures show first-time buyers and renters represent 70 per cent of those making use of the scheme.
As well as meeting the Czunys, Mr Williams also spoke with one of Linden Homes’ local apprentices working on the development, Danielle Bush. The company is committed to training hundreds of people under its Linden Homes National Apprentice Programme.
Linden Homes South West managing director Nigel Palmer said: “We were pleased to welcome the Housing Minister to Home@Heartlands. The new homes and the Help to Buy scheme have been very positive for the Redruth community and it’s certainly a development we are very proud of.
“The Minister was especially interested to learn how energy efficient the properties are at Home@Heartlands and how the development was helping to regenerate the area.”
Providing 133 new homes, Home@Heartlands employs 50 local people on site each day.
The homes will be built with increased levels of insulation and triple glazed windows to ensure heat loss is kept to a minimum. Each home will also be fitted with a high efficiency boiler with pre-heater water supply, photovoltaic panels, plus smart metering and energy display devices so you can keep track of how much energy you’re using. Energy efficient lighting and glazing will improve natural day-light and there is also a natural rainwater collection for garden use.
Designed to reflect the local Cornish heritage and architecture in the county’s historic mining centre, the development will feature a range of one and two bedroom apartments, plus two three and four bedroom homes for sale with Help to Buy.
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For further press information contact Emma Mackay on 01626 356666 or email emma.mackay@lindenhomes.co.uk
