House completion numbers in Wyre Forest at highest since 2007

Figures show that more than 300 new houses were built in the district during the past year. Of those, more than 150 were classed as affordable homes.

Key housing sites currently under development in Kidderminster include the former Georgian Carpets site at Clensmore, which has planning permission for 223 dwellings, with 83 homes already completed and another 62 under construction. When complete, there will be 49 affordable homes provided on the site.

The former British Sugar site has planning permission for 250 dwellings. Construction work has now started on site and six affordable homes have already been delivered. A supported housing scheme, The Foyer in Bromsgrove Street, opened in late 2013.

In Stourport, the former Morgan Technical Ceramics site on Bewdley Road has planning permission for 98 dwellings. Sixty have already been delivered including 24 affordable homes. The Lucy Baldwin Hospital site also has planning permission for 41 homes in total and 12 of them will be affordable. Seven houses have already been completed.

In Blakedown, the former Blakedown Nurseries site has been developed with 42 homes and 19 of them are classed as affordable. The final seven houses are due to be completed soon.

During 2013 the district council also worked to bring long-term empty homes back into use, with more than 30 previously empty properties now occupied again.

District council cabinet member for place shaping, Conservative councillor Anne Hingley, said: “ I am delighted that the district council has been so proactive in bringing forward new housing developments within our area.

"A significant proportion of the new homes delivered in 2013 were affordable and will help to meet our identified local needs. The increased construction rates demonstrate improving confidence and investment within the district and will help to ensure that we continue to deliver sustainable communities as part of our ambition to see the district growing.”