First tenants move into new Cannock council estate

Properties at Patterdale Road and Kingsway were completed on the Moss Road Estate in Chadsmoor last month.

When finished, the development will feature 65 council houses and 76 on the open market ranging from two to three bedroom homes.

It is hoped the entire scheme will be completed by spring 2018.

The homes are part of Cannock Chase Council's long-term plan to deliver 129 homes over the next three years.

Housing chief Councillor Frank Allen said: "We are delighted to be delivering the first new Council housing in a quarter of a century and to be redeveloping this estate, providing high quality family housing for the residents of the area."

Representatives from the council as well as Keepmoat Homes held a ceremony at the estate to welcome the new arrivals.

The house-builder was recognised with an 'excellent' rating in the Considerate Constructors Scheme for their work on the site.

Paul Degg, regional managing director for Keepmoat, said: "Working in partnership with Cannock Chase Council, we are delighted to offer affordable new homes to local people as part of the Moss Road regeneration scheme."

All 76 of the private homes will be on sale with the Government's Help to Buy scheme allowing buyers to put purchase with a five per cent deposit.

Earlier this month the Express & Star revealed that there were currently more than 1,100 families on the council's waiting list including 33 people who have been on there for a decade.

In defence of the figures the council argued that homes were allocated to people who need them ahead of those that simply 'want' one.

The authority stated that the majority of people on the list were not in urgent need of a property and were simply holding out for the right type of home or location.

Although council chiefs readily recognised the lack of housing supply in the district which is why the Moss Road Estate has been so well publicised.