Twelve more affordable homes are helping local families stay in the Babergh district thanks to strong partnership working.

The new tenants celebrated the official opening of a £1.35m affordable housing scheme in Ipswich Road, Holbrook alongside representatives from Holbrook Parish Council, Babergh District Council and Orwell Housing Association.

The brand new homes were developed as a Rural Exception Site – which means only people with a strong connection with the village will be eligible to live there.

Holbrook Parish Council worked closely with Babergh and Orwell to secure the development after a housing needs survey showed there was a demand for affordable homes for local families who wanted to stay in Holbrook.

The parish council were instumental in helping to find appropriate land for the scheme to be built. Marion Leeson, former Chairman of the parish council, in particular championed the need for local, affordable housing, helping to approach land owners and farmers in the area for suitable land.

Simon Page, Chairman of Holbrook Parish Council, said: “Holbrook Parish Council is pleased to see the result of many years hard work by Orwell Housing Association and Babergh in the provision of much-needed affordable housing to meet the needs of genuine Holbrook families. The site is already starting to blend in with the local surroundings and the families there are absolutely delighted with their new homes.”

“It is our intention to work with our partners again in the future to determine whether any further housing of this type is needed for the area.”

Ian Tippett, Babergh's Strategic Housing Manager, said: "Babergh's villages and communities are the lifeblood of our district and only by ensuring that everyone can access good quality affordable homes can we ensure their future and sustainability.”

"Babergh is delighted the development in Holbrook will help people with a strong connection to the village find a home that may have otherwise eluded them. These excellent homes are a result of strong partnership working between us, the parish council and Orwell Housing Association."

The scheme was designed by local architects Rees Prior and built by contractors Elliston Steady Hawes.

“The Association is committed to working with local people to provide a solution to the lack of affordable housing in rural areas. The new homes at Holbrook are all built to very high standards of energy efficiency and will provide warm, comfortable, and affordable home for local people for many years to come” said Wendy Evans-Hendrick, Director of Development and Property Services at Orwell Housing Association.

“We have looked carefully at the surrounding area and have chosen the design, scale and materials of this scheme to sit sympathetically alongside the other properties in the village.”

Martin Bennett, Chairman of Orwell Housing Association, said: "The success of schemes, such as Ipswich Road, in enabling families to remain in rural communities demonstrates just what can be achieved when there is strong partnership working”

He added: "I am delighted to be opening this much-needed rural development in Holbrook. I am particularly pleased that the homes are targeted at local people wishing to remain in the village who otherwise may be priced out of the housing market and have no option but to move away.”