Maidstone Borough Council has taken handover of two new housing developments, bringing 43 new homes to local residents and helping meet demand for affordable housing across the borough.

The developments, Wilberforce House on Tonbridge Road and Len Martin Court at Corbens Place, have been delivered through a partnership between Maidstone Borough Council and Skillcrown Homes.

The mixture of one and two-bedroom apartments provide 24 homes at Len Martin Court and 19 homes at Wilberforce House. The schemes have transformed previously underused sites into modern affordable housing for local people.

The homes have been designed to be energy efficient with electric heat pumps for hot water and electric heating systems. These features will help residents reduce their environmental impact and potentially lower their energy bills.

Councillor Simon Wales, Maidstone Borough Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: "Safe, secure and affordable housing can change people's lives. For many local families and individuals, finding a genuinely affordable home is becoming increasingly difficult, which is why increasing the supply of affordable housing remains one of the council's key priorities.

"The completion of Wilberforce House and Len Martin Court means more local people will have access to high-quality homes they can afford, helping them put down roots, build stable futures and remain part of the communities they know and love.

"We're pleased to have worked closely with Skillcrown to on these developments and look forward to welcoming residents into their new homes."

Matt Arnold, Land & Development Director at Skillcrown Homes, said: “Reaching completion at Wilberforce House and Len Martin Court is a really satisfying moment for everyone involved. When we entered into this partnership with Maidstone Borough Council, the aim was not simply to construct new homes, but to deliver homes of a quality that we could all be proud of and that residents will enjoy living in for many years to come. We are very proud that Skillcrown is playing a part in helping turn that ambition into completed homes.”

The developments form part of Maidstone Borough Council's wider ambition to increase the availability of affordable housing across the borough. The council has set a target of delivering 1,000 affordable homes over ten years, working with partners to bring forward suitable sites and create more opportunities for local people to access affordable housing.

Residents are expected to move into the new homes soon.

The council and Skillcrown Homes continue to work together on further affordable housing developments, including the next phases at Corbens Place and Granville Road, helping to maintain the delivery of new homes for residents across the borough.

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