SENIOR councillors are to hear about efforts to provide more affordable rent homes.

Flintshire Council’s cabinet will be asked to note progress of the North East Wales Homes (NEW Homes) Business Plan 2019/2048 at its meeting on Tuesday (December 17.)

The plan sets out key elements of the company’s proposed development strategy to increase the number of affordable rent properties delivered over the next three years by 207 units.

This will increase the total number of properties managed by NEW Homes to 309.

It shows that good overall progress on a number of schemes which NEW Homes is developing across Flintshire through the Council’s Strategic Housing And Regeneration Programme (SHARP).

NEW Homes anticipated a further nine units as “gifted units” in the Plan in 19/20 taking the total gifted units to 49.

Flintshire Council has said this is on track with five already received in Kinnerton and a further four anticipated in Saltney.

These properties are transferred to the company as “unencumbered assets” at nil value.

Opportunities for future growth are set out in the plan include purchase of Section 106 properties, partnerships with local developers and housing associations and using land owned by Flintshire County Council, where available.

Neal Cockerton, Flintshire Council’s chief officer for housing and assets, said: “A positive working relationship has developed between the council, NEW Homes and construction partners.

"This has made it possible to provide properties at affordable rents, helping local people to remain within their own local communities through section 106 agreements.

“NEW Homes continues to actively increase housing choice for those who may not qualify for social housing but for whom the housing market is unaffordable or difficult to access.”

NEW Homes is a housing company owned by Flintshire Council, established in April 2014 to increase the quantity, quality and choice of affordable housing available in the county.

The firm also provides a professional service to landlords as a managing agent as a means of increasing the availability of quality affordable housing.