East Herts Council pioneers new social rent scheme with four family homes at St Michael’s Hurst in Bishop’s Stortford
Four new family homes in Bishop’s Stortford have been secured at a substantial discount for tenants for at least 20 years, thanks to a new East Herts Council (EHC) initiative.
The four-bedroom houses at St Michael’s Hurst can be rented to families for the same price as a three-bedroom property.
They would normally cost £316 a week, but thanks to the scheme, the bill has been reduced to £278. The same home on the open market would cost around £480 a week.
The council’s Liberal Democrat deputy leader, Cllr Mione Goldspink, who is also its executive member for neighbourhoods, said the bill was around 58% of the private cost and represented a true social rent.
Families will save around £2,000 a year and the deal will not be reviewed until after the first relet and 20 years have elapsed.
Cllr Goldspink, who represents Bishop’s Stortford North ward, and Jonathan Geall, the council’s head of housing and health, brokered the deal with Paradigm Housing Group.
The council has used £40,000 earmarked for affordable housing to finance the “innovative rent reduction scheme”, she said.
She announced the breakthrough at the last meeting of the full council this year. She told colleagues: “I know it’s a very small start but I’m very pleased with it.”
She said she had already contacted another housing association to expand the scheme.
The social rent properties are among 125 affordable homes – nine flats and 116 two-, three- and four-bedroom houses – in the latest tranche at St Michael’s Hurst to be delivered by developer Vistry.
Due for completion in late 2025, this next phase will provide 73 homes for rent and 52 for sale on a shared ownership basis (part-buy, part-rent) with prices starting at £95,000.
Megan Fielding, one of Paradigm’s new tenants, said: “Simply put, I love our new home. Dealing with Paradigm has been smooth and straightforward, and they’ve been responsive to any questions I’ve had.
“The community here is great. I have lovely neighbours and the environment is good for the kids as well. It’s a genuine pleasure to have such a nice house to live in with safe and friendly surroundings, and I’m looking forward to settling down here for years to come.”
Martyn Jones, executive director of development for Paradigm, said: “We’re really pleased to be providing yet more high-quality, affordable homes for those who need it around East Herts. The quality of houses and the undeniable community that is being created here at St Michael’s Hurst is superb.
“With Paradigm set to bring forward a further 400 new homes across the East Herts district over the next three years, I think this is a great example of what we can achieve in partnership with developers such as Vistry and the local council, and I’m looking forward to visiting our future developments together.”
Verity MacMahon, managing director of Vistry Central Home Counties, said: “This is an important milestone for our housing programme in partnership with Paradigm in East Herts, completing a range of affordable houses and apartments for residents.
“At Vistry, we remain committed to our partnerships approach, ensuring we deliver the mix of housing tenures that communities need to help address the ever-growing demand for high-quality new homes.”
