Gosport council plans multimillion-pound scheme to build 100 affordable homes in three years

Plans are in motion for a £7.5m scheme from Gosport Borough Council that would see the homes built to cut down on the authority’s housing waiting list.

The proposals are subject to both approval at a council meeting on Wednesday, and the capital costs being approved in the council budget on February 5.

Currently, Gosport Borough Council owns 3,114 properties, but has a waiting list of almost 1,000 households.

It is hoped that this new initiative will help to reduce this waiting list.

Chairman of the council's community board, Councillor Graham Burgess, said: ‘There are a lot of people in Gosport who can’t afford to get on the housing ladder or afford commercial rent.

‘We have a lot of second and third generation families who want to move out but stay in the same area.

‘What we’re doing with this programme should make a huge difference for local people.’

In part, the scheme will be funded from the council’s Right To Buy receipts – money paid to the council from people using the Right To Buy scheme. The cash would go to the government if not reinvested into housing within three years.

The first 31 homes will see eight houses in Stoners Close, 20 in Tukes Avenue and three in Russell Street.

The 20 homes in Tukes Avenue will be built behind shops near Pettycot Crescent.

But Cllr Burgess said the council has ruled out any sort of tower block being built in the area.

‘It’ll be a combination of flats and houses,’ he said.

‘There categorically won’t be a tower block – we want the housing to blend in seamlessly with the surrounding area.’

More sites have been identified for housing bu there is no commitment beyond the 100 homes yet.