The latest development in a scheme to provide much needed affordable rural housing will be opened in Skegness next week.

Saxon Fields consists of 168 new homes and a community hub facility which has been made possible thanks to the Unlocking Rural Housing Programme run by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Ninety out of 100 affordable homes have so far been built on the 1.12-hectare brownfield site, and the original scheme has been enlarged, meaning a further 68 homes will now be added by the summer of 2018.

Saxon Fields has been developed by the Waterloo Housing Group off Lincoln Road, west of Skegness town centre. Other partners include East Lindsey District Council, Chestnut Homes and the Homes and Communities Agency.

The Unlocking Rural Housing Programme, which is bringing affordable housing to the Borough of Boston and East Lindsey, benefited from £4.2m of funding in the first round of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s Growth Deal negotiated with the government.

It aims to help build 419 affordable homes on priority housing sites in and around Boston and Skegness which, owing to significant barriers and constraints, would not otherwise be brought forward in the short to medium term.

“It’s a great pleasure to see this development completed successfully,” said David Dexter, Deputy Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.

“We funded this scheme because we recognise the importance of housing to the local economy, and the contribution which housing makes to growth.

“That’s why, in the very first Growth Deal which we negotiated with the government, we developed our £4.2m Unlocking Rural Housing Programme.

“Our programme plays an important role in enabling housing sites to be developed, and we look forward to working with our partners on similar projects in the future.”

An opening ceremony will take place at 11am on Tuesday 24^th October 2017 followed by refreshments in the community hub.

Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend. Please let Jez Ashberry at Shooting Star know if you would like to attend by emailing jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk or by calling 01522 528540.

Notes to Editors:
• The Greater Lincolnshire LEP was set up in 2010 and works with businesses and local authorities to develop and grow Greater Lincolnshire’s diverse economy.
• It is a public / private partnership led by the private sector.
• It works with central government and the private sector to invest in infrastructure, skills, innovation and productivity
• More than 100 businesses are involved in its strategies, and 80 business people sit on its boards.• The LEP has an ambitious and balanced strategic economic growth plan for Greater Lincolnshire.
• The LEP’s six priority sectors are agrifood, the visitor economy, manufacturing, logistics, health and care and low-carbon energy.
• The LEP has invested £307 million in local economic growth schemes in Greater Lincolnshire since 2014.
• The Greater Lincolnshire LEP covers an area including North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and the administrative county of Lincolnshire and is led by a LEP board made up of leading figures in the public and private sector.
• To find out more visit www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk or follow the LEP on Twitter: @greaterlincslep.

For media information contact:
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star
01522 528540
07780 735071
@jezashberry
jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk
[LEP158saxonfields]