A former Lake District care home which closed in 2020 is set to be brought back to life to provide much-needed affordable homes for individuals, couples and families.
The Cabinet of Westmorland and Furness Council has agreed to the sale of The Abbey at Staveley, near Kendal, to deliver an urgently required affordable housing scheme.
The 18-property development will go towards meeting an acute need for more affordable homes in the area, after recent research revealed significant demand and more than 93% of local people unable to afford an open market priced home.
Housing is recognised as one of the area’s key challenges and the Westmorland and Furness Council Plan prioritises action to provide sustainable, affordable homes, allowing residents to live, work and thrive in rural communities.
The council carried out a detailed appraisal into the most suitable future use for The Abbey in 2023. This concluded that disposal to a registered provider to redevelop and manage the site as an affordable housing scheme represented the most appropriate solution.
A report considered by Cabinet added that Home Group is a well-established housing association, with a wealth of experience in delivering social value across communities, including providing local jobs and apprenticeships. Home Group expects to receive funding through the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme and from its own borrowings to finance the development.
The site would primarily provide affordable housing, supported by a smaller number of local occupancy dwellings, with a range of one, two and three-bedroom properties.
Cllr Judith Derbyshire, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: “The affordable homes crisis is particularly acute in and around the Lake District National Park with property prices well above the means of those on average income levels.
“There is a chronic lack of affordable housing in some of the most expensive areas to live within Westmorland and Furness and this is a barrier to economic growth.
“We need more affordable, quality housing so that local families can build a life here and new people can be attracted to relocate. Our Council Plan is clear that wherever we can, we will support the provision of housing to encourage people to stay and to attract families and skilled people.
“This scheme will have many benefits for the village, not least ensuing that it remains a stable and vibrant community, with an extended range of housing so that local people have greater opportunity to stay close to loved ones.”
Cllr Derbyshire said the landmark building had played an important role in local life over many years.
In recognising this, the council would be facilitating a meeting between interested local parties and the Home Group as soon as practicable and arranging a drop-in event for the community to be updated on the proposals and share their views.
Elsa Brailey, Head of Development and Delivery North West at Home Group, said: “We have a long and successful track record of delivering affordable homes across Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland. We currently provide over 10,000 affordable homes across the two areas.
“Delivering the right homes, in the right places, is at the centre of what we do as one of the UK’s largest housing associations.”