Local first-time buyers and essential workers benefit from First Homes in East Dorset

Dorset Councillors recently toured two sites in East Dorset which will provide First Homes for local first-time buyers and essential workers.

The First Homes are part of Dorset Council’s First Homes Scheme, which means the local authority sets the eligibility criteria and approves the applications. The properties are sold at a minimum 30% discount off their full market value, which remains in place for the property's lifetime.  

Applicants are local people, purchasing their first home, and/or an essential worker such as a nurse or members of the armed forces and their families. The household income should not exceed £80,000.

The developer Pennyfarthing Homes, who are a family run business based in Hampshire, have worked closely with Dorset Council to provide 18 First Homes at Potters Wood in Verwood, with a further seven apartments at Oakwood Grove in neighbouring Alderholt.

Touring both locations was the Cabinet Member for Health and Housing, Gill Taylor and Gary Messenger, Interim Head of Housing. At the Verwood tour were Councillors Spencer Flower and Toni Coombs. They enjoyed a preview of one of a set of First Homes to be completed at the Potters Wood site, where there is a selection of one and two bedroom apartments or two and three bedroom houses.

This was followed by a visit to the Alderholt apartments, which are being constructed and will include one and two bedroom apartments, with a selection of ground floor properties.

Gill Taylor, Cabinet Member for Housing and Health said, “It can be challenging to get on the property ladder in Dorset, but First Homes give people the opportunity to do just that and to live, work and raise their families locally.  

Prioritising key workers and local residents at both these fantastic developments, will help the local economy and retain skills along with the long-standing connections people have to the area.

The First Homes model complements other tenures of affordable housing, such as rented and shared ownership homes, and we are fully supportive of increasing the supply of all these tenures."

Matt Dukes, Managing Director at Pennyfarthing Homes, who also participated in the tour said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Dorset Council to Oakwood Grove and Potters Wood. We were thrilled to showcase the value of the First Homes scheme and the high quality of properties available to local first-time buyers. As a business that remains firmly committed to the family values on which it was founded back in 1977, Pennyfarthing is delighted to be supporting so many local buyers to take that all-important first step onto the property ladder here in Dorset.”

Both the houses and apartments at both sites will feature a combination of Air Source Heat Pumps and cylinders, allocated parking and EV charging points. The red brickwork of the houses and grey weatherboarding of the apartments echo the architectural heritage of the local area, while interiors have been designed to provide spacious, open plan living with plenty of natural light.

For further information about affordable housing and the First Homes Scheme visit Affordable housing - Dorset Council

For more information on Oakwood Grove, please call 01425 563 223, visit https://www.pennyfarthinghomes.co.uk/development/oakwood-grove-alderholt/ or email oakwoodgrove@pennyfarthinghomes.co.uk.

For more information on Potters Wood, please call 01202 403 144, visit https://www.pennyfarthinghomes.co.uk/development/potters-wood-verwood-dorset/ or email potterswood@pennyfarthinghomes.co.uk.