More than 100 much-needed affordable homes are once again to be included in a major housing development after they were previously deemed “unviable”.

Rother District Council has given its support to a new option for the Blackfriars site in Battle which would see 130 affordable rented homes and properties for shared ownership back in the plans.

The affordable homes element of the development was removed from the 200-home scheme in November last year after increased costs made it unviable, the council said.

But a redesign, led by Rother DC Housing Company Ltd and its board of directors and the appointment of a new main contractor has improved the project’s finances considerably.

Councillor Rauri McCourt, the district council’s portfolio holder for housing, said: “We are delighted to support the reintroduction of affordable homes to this important scheme which will go some way to ease the housing shortage in the district and provide accommodation for families wanting to remain in the area.

Read more: Car park could be demolished to make way for more than 100 flats

“The Blackfriars site has been earmarked for housing for many years and it has taken a great deal of work to get to this point.  I look forward to seeing the development progress and the community benefit from some much-needed low-carbon accommodation in the area that will maximise the use of renewable energy technologies. 

“It is a priority of the government to increase the building of genuinely affordable homes and it is our priority in Rother too.”

Funding of £8.7 million from Homes England will help deliver a new road and establish utilities on the site.  A bid for a further £8 million has been made by Rother District Council.  Construction work is expected to begin in January 2025.

A mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties will be built to high environmental standards, including air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points.

Richard Thomas, chairman of Rother DC Housing, said: “The company continues to deliver on its promise to the Rother community to deliver a scheme of 200 environmentally friendly homes that will be cheaper to run. Of these 130 will be much-needed affordable new homes, including rented properties for those on the housing waiting list and low-cost homeownership for young first-time buyers.

“The board and I are very proud of what the company has achieved to date and cannot wait to get building. Contractors should be on site by January 2025. Huge thanks to all involved.”