Celebrations For New Affordable Housing Scheme In Minehead

There were celebrations in Alcombe, a hamlet in Dunster Parish this week as Magna West Somerset officially opened its latest housing scheme built by independent developer, C G Fry & Son.  The development named Brackensfield comprises 33 homes for rent, with a mix of two, three and four bedroom houses as well as two bedroom bungalows. 

The official ribbon cutting with (L to R) Adam Peat (chairman of Magna Housing Group), Cllr Tim Taylor (leader of West Somerset Council), Graham Colls (group chief executive of Magna) and Tony Murray (Magna West Somerset director)

Children waiting to cut the ribbon

C G Fry & Son built the properties to Level 3 of the Code for ‘Sustainable Homes’ standard.  They are equipped with gas central heating. Michael Dear, commercial director for C G Fry & Son, said: “We are delighted to have been part of this project with Magna West Somerset which will provide much-needed affordable homes to the local community.  The project has gone well and we have enjoyed working with the Magna team.”

The scheme’s completion was marked with a community barbecue for residents and guests with many of the children living in the scheme who were treated to a Punch and Judy show.

West Somerset Council leader, Cllr Tim Taylor, who cut the ribbon to mark the opening.

He said: “West Somerset Council has a long-standing and close relationship with Magna and I am very pleased to see families living happily in these homes.  It’s been fantastic seeing what a great sense of community the residents have here and I think this is partly down to the clever design of the site.  Well done to Magna and the residents.”

Magna Housing Group chairman, Adam Peat, paid tribute to all those involved in the scheme, he said: “We are very proud of the standard of housing achieved and hope everyone will be very happy for many years to come.” Around 770 people ‘bid’ for the rented properties, indicating just how needed the homes are. All were allocated to local residents in housing need through the Homefinder Somerset choice based lettings system.The name ‘Brackensfield’ was suggested by a local resident and approved by West Somerset Council.  

The national Homes and Communities Agency invested £749,000 in the scheme.  The rest of the money came from Magna, partly from borrowing (£2,283,000) and partly from the sale of ten properties which were hard to let or costly to maintain (£723,000).