New homes within reach for local people

A former sheltered housing scheme - Fortey House - in Northleach has been transformed into 22 new homes.

A range of two and three-bedroom properties are now available for sale to existing residents of Northleach who can benefit from Bromford's 'Help to Buy' 20 per cent equity loan, meaning just five per cent deposit is required - or £8,212. Good news for young people/first-time buyers, particularly in light of recent research by the National Housing Federation revealing that thousands of young people are going to extreme lengths to raise cash to afford their first home.

Woodlands, Bicknell Close in Northleach has been built in Cotswold stone to blend in with the existing landscape. The parish council welcomed the development, saying: "We're so happy that we're finally getting affordable housing in its [Fortey House] place as it has stood empty for some time."

Alan Bradley of Bromford Homes said: "Woodlands, Bicknell Close provides affordable quality for local people and is in a central location within an easy commute of Cheltenham, Gloucester, Swindon and Oxford. There is already a lot of interest so we would urge potential buyers to view as soon as they can."

There is an Open Day this Saturday, 18 April between 11am and 3pm.

Each home comes with a fitted kitchen with oven, hob and extractor, fitted wardrobes and two parking spaces per property. For more information on Woodlands, go to www.bromfordhomes.co.uk or call 0845 6010878 or 07850 918938.

More information on NHF research

A poll of over 2,300 British young people on housing issues, conducted by YouGov for the NHF, reveals that there is a growing sense of dissatisfaction at Britain's failure to tackle the housing crisis for their generation and nearly nine in 10 (87%) 18-34 year olds say it is difficult for their generation to get on the housing ladder in Britain.

The poll also revealed some of the ways young people are currently or considering doing to afford a deposit for a home:

• More than one in ten (12%) 18-34-year-olds - the equivalent of 1.7 million¹ - have or are thinking of taking on a second job to raise funds for a house deposit
• A shocking one in 25 (4%) have or are considering taking part in paid medical research, suggesting how desperate young people are to get a deposit together. 
• Young people are also putting their lives on hold with 2.1 million² (15%) considering putting marriage and family plans on the back burner and around one in seven (14%) moving back in with parents
• One in 20 (5%) also revealed they are considering or are sharing a room with a friend or stranger with the same amount delaying or cancelling plans for further study

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,330 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 18 February - 2 March 2015. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18-34).

¹ Calculation based on Labour Force Survey data 2014. Population aged 18 to 34 = 14,126,803, 12% thereof = 1.7m

² Calculation based on Labour Force Survey data 2014. Population aged 18 to 34 = 14,126,803, 15% thereof = 2.1m