40 New Affordable Homes Delivered in Maidstone Town Centre, With Room for Bats and Swifts

Maidstone Borough Council has taken ownership of two new developments on Granville Road in the town centre, delivering 40 affordable homes for local people - the latest phase of the council's ongoing partnership with developer Skillcrown Homes to turn underused town centre sites into housing.

The two developments, Britannia House and Earl's House, have been built on previously underused land on Granville Road. The homes are designed to be energy efficient, with solar panels, electric heating systems, heat-recovery technology and water-efficient fittings intended to help residents cut both their environmental impact and their energy bills. Residents are expected to move in soon.

Both developments include bat and swift boxes built into the design, creating nesting and roosting opportunities for protected wildlife in the middle of the town centre, alongside new planters around the buildings intended to improve the look of the area for residents.

Granville Road is the third site completed under the council's partnership with Skillcrown Homes, following 43 affordable homes delivered at Wilberforce House and Len Martin Court earlier this year - which had already flagged Granville Road as a site in the pipeline. Skillcrown says the partnership has now delivered 83 homes in total across the three sites, with a further 41 homes still to come. The developments form part of the council's wider target of delivering 1,000 affordable homes across the borough over ten years.

Councillor Simon Wales, Maidstone Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: “Having a safe and secure home can make such a difference to someone's life, and that is what makes developments like these so important. We also have a responsibility to think about the kind of places we are creating for the future. That means homes that are better for the environment, but also making room for the wildlife that shares our town. I'm proud that we're doing both here.” Matt Arnold, Land & Development Director at Skillcrown Homes, said: “We're delighted to have completed another 40 much-needed affordable homes in the town centre and we hope people enjoy living here for many years to come. This project marks another important milestone in our excellent working relationship with the council, with 83 homes now completed across three sites and a further 41 in the pipeline.”

Source: Maidstone Borough Council.