AN ESSEX-based housing association is celebrating the handover of five new affordable homes at a development on Mersea Island.

These homes, situated at the Brierley Paddocks development are the first to be delivered by CHP on the island.

The five homes mark the completion of the first phase of new homes for CHP in Mersea.

A further 25 homes are due to complete by the summer of 2024.

Handover took place in early November and families are expected to move in shortly after.

Once complete, 24 of the 30 homes will be offered at affordable rent which is set at up to 80 per cent of market rent.

As for the remaining six homes, these will be offered for sale on a shared ownership basis.

The initial five homes that have been handed over will be offered at affordable rent to people who would otherwise be unable to afford market rents in the area.

CHP partnered with developers City and Country for the first time to deliver new homes which will provide affordable housing for the local community. 

The houses have been built using factory-made timber frame panels which makes the development more sustainable and contribute towards CHP’s sustainability goals.

Fiona Hollingsworth, growth and partnership director at CHP said: “We’re really pleased to be providing much needed housing for local people on Mersea Island for the first time. 

“We are committed to providing homes which are not only affordable for people to rent or buy and live in but are also more energy efficient and sustainable too. 

“It’s important to us to build decent homes that people want to live in”.