Homes England invests in garden town of the future

Homes England – formerly the Homes and Communities Agency – has purchased 60 hectares of land previously earmarked by Shepway District Council for Otterpool Park, a garden town of the future.

The proposed Otterpool Park comprises up to 12,000 homes near Folkestone. It is being championed by Shepway District Council and Cozumel Estates Ltd – owners of the former racecourse at Westenhanger. According to Homes England, these measures are further evidence of the government’s support for a new generation of garden towns – the objective being to deliver high quality homes that the country desperately needs.

When Homes England was initially established it was said that the organisation would play a pivotal role securing land in places people want to live, delivering an average of 300,000 homes per year by the mid 2020s.

According to Paul Kitson, General Manager for the South East for Homes England: “Buying this land shows how Homes England is determined to use our finance and expertise to expand the delivery of affordable new homes and connect ambitious partners.

“We have been very impressed by the ambition shown by the Council and landowners to deliver Otterpool Park – a garden town for the 21st century. Owning this land will give us a voice in delivering a community that will meet the local need for homes in a place that is truly environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.”

David Monk, Leader of Shepway District Council added: “I am delighted that Homes England has co-invested with the Council to deliver Otterpool Park. It shows the government has faith in our plans for this garden town.

“This investment will help us deliver an even better place so that our children and grandchildren can have the homes they need in a community that will also meet their needs for jobs, access to the countryside, transport links, schools, health centres and a great quality of life.”

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