Affordable homes at Bellway Thames Gateway’s new development on the outskirts of Maidstone have been handed over to the housing association that will manage them.

The developer is building 170 new homes at Bellway at Rosewood, off Sutton Road in Langley, including 51 affordable properties available for local people through shared ownership or low-cost rent.

The housebuilder has now handed over 37 of the affordable properties – a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, one-bedroom maisonettes and two and three-bedroom houses – to Golding Homes, a housing association which manages more than 8,500 properties across Kent.

The first of these – four semi-detached houses for affordable rent – were completed and handed over in July 2023, with the first block of 12 apartments completed the following month. The remaining 21 homes were handed over in spring and summer this year, with all but one of the 37 homes now occupied.

A further 10 affordable homes will be completed and delivered by the end of next month, with the final four to be finished by the end of the year.

Carolyn Webb, Sales Manager at Bellway Thames Gateway, said: “Construction is progressing well at Bellway at Rosewood and we have now been able to hand over 37 of the 51 affordable properties we are providing on site to Golding Homes. These properties are an important element of the development and are helping to create a vibrant new neighbourhood.

“The affordable housing provision offers a lifeline for local people whose budget does not stretch to buying their own home. These properties, which are a selection of one, two and three-bedroom homes, will allow them to secure a property which means they can stay close to their family and friends.

“We have also completed 22 private homes at the development and we can see a wonderful new community taking shape.”

Merle Murray, Development Manager at Golding Homes, said: We’re pleased to have taken handover of these apartments, maisonettes and houses in Langley, and for them to already be providing homes for local people.

“As a local landlord, Maidstone is our key development area where affordable housing is much needed, so this is a significant step towards helping to meet the local housing need. We’re looking forward to taking handover of the remaining properties and seeing them become somebody’s new home.”

Bellway at Rosewood is part of the wider Rosewood development, with plans for the overall scheme including up to 800 homes, over 34.5 acres of public open space and the provision of land for a primary school within the 116-acre site.

There is currently a selection of three, four and five-bedroom homes available to reserve at Bellway at Rosewood, with prices starting at £373,500.