WORK to build 14 new council houses in Cam on the site of a former car park has been completed with the first tenants moving in.

The homes in Chapel Street have been built as part of Stroud District Council’s programme to create more than 200 new affordable houses across the district by March.

Built by Speller Metcalfe, the combination of shared ownership houses and homes for rent took just over a year to complete.

Amongst those to have moved into the new homes is Daniel and Samantha Matthew and their children Ruby, two, and 10-month-old Evie.

Samantha said that she was so happy when they first moved in that she burst into tears.

“When we walked into the house for the first time I burst into tears – it was like a palace,” she said.

“We moved in the same day we signed the tenancy – we just couldn’t wait to start living here. 

“We had been bidding on HomeseekerPlus for about 18 months and it was soul destroying to miss out on properties week after week, but it’s all worth it now and we wouldn’t change this house for the world. 

“We still can’t believe how lucky we are.”

The development is made up of a mix of one, two and three bedroom dwellings with nine being rented by the council and the remainder reserved for shared ownership.

The Matthew family now live in one of the two-bedroom homes.
Stroud District Council is the only local authority in the county which still owns and manages council houses, with the others having transferred them into social housing organisations. 

Cllr Mattie Ross, chairman of Stroud District Council’s housing committee, said: “I’m delighted that the Matthews family are enjoying their new home. 

“This scheme is part of a five-year, £19.5million investment by Stroud District Council to build over 200 new homes across the district.”

Over the last four years, schemes have been completed in Minchinhampton, Leonard Stanley, Littlecombe in Dursley, Stroud, The Corriett in Cam, Coaley and Berkeley.