Villagers' anger as council buys 12 homes for Afghan and Ukrainian refugees on posh newbuild estate where properties sell for more than £700,000 while locals languish on waiting list
- Residents living in Langtoft, Lincolnshire, say there is 'outcry' over the plans
- They say locals who have been waiting for accommodation should have priority
Villagers have reacted with anger after it emerged the council is housing refugees in a newbuild estate where properties sell for more than £700,000.
Residents living in rural Langtoft, Lincolnshire, say there is 'an outcry' over the plans to house Afghan and Ukrainian families on the £1.8million estate.
They say locals who have been waiting for accommodation or those struggling to get on the housing ladder should be given priority. Property prices in the village are said to average £400,000.
South Kesteven District Council bought 12 of the houses for just over £1.8million, using joint funding from the Government's Local Authority Housing Fund and the Council's Housing Revenue Account budget.
The dozen homes are a mix of two and three-bedroom new-builds and two-bedroom bungalows which were already identified for social housing, according to the council. They are the first of 21 houses earmarked for the re-homing scheme.
Villagers have reacted with anger after it emerged the the council is housing refugees in a posh newbuild estate (pictured) where properties sell for more than £700,000
Residents living in rural Langtoft, Lincolnshire, (pictured) say there is 'an outcry' over the plans to house Afghan and Ukrainian families on the £1.8million estate
The council has bought 12 houses in the estate (pictured), which are listed for sale for between £600,000-£720,000 by Housing developer Ashwood Homes
Housing developer Ashwood Homes boasts the 41 ‘high-specification homes’ that comprise its Woodland Rise development are in a ‘beautiful rural location’, with three of the houses listed for sale for between £600,000-£720,000.
The council expects to take ownership of the 12 properties by the end of the month and they will be used to house Ukraine and Afghan migrants who have arrived in the UK legally.
It has £4.4million earmarked for a total of 21 properties for the re-housing scheme, with £2,383,750 coming from the council's Housing Revenue Account and £2,098,750 of funding allocated by the Government Local Authority Housing Fund.
South Kesteven District Council is one of three local authorities in Lincolnshire and among just 180 nationwide to be selected to benefit from the Government's fund.
The fund, which is worth £500million nationally, helps provide affordable homes for legal evacuees until their visas expire in around three to five years' time, by supporting local authorities.
Funding from it can be used for, but is not limited to, acquiring, refurbishing, converting and developing properties to provide housing for Ukrainian and Afghan families under the government's humanitarian schemes.
This could include acquiring new build properties ‘off-the-shelf’, according to government guidance.
The council said the homes will later be occupied by families on its Housing Register.
Local resident Liz Jarman, 74, said people in Langtoft have 'not been given one chance' to buy a house on the development.
Although she believes it's 'wonderful' the Government is housing refugees and has 'no objections to that', she is angry that 'little Langtoft' has been chosen for half of the district's allocation.
Local resident Liz Jarman, 74, said people in Langtoft have 'not been given one chance' to buy a house on the development
The development has 41 homes in total which are a mix of two and three-bedroom houses and two-bedroom bungalows
She said: 'We are just being totally disregarded. It's not that I'm against refugees - I welcome them – but how can the council do that?
'I'm totally disgusted by the disregard – they're treating us like we are completely stupid.
'They are more than welcome as they are desperate for homes but so are our people living in crumby bedsits, hotels and hostels. Where is the justice?
'This is not because we're anti-refugees, it's the way it's been done.
'This is about council secrecy and transparency. The meetings to discuss it were held in secret.
'We've got so many of our citizens who are struggling, and ex-servicemen who would give anything to get a home.
'When this was put forward, it clearly stated the refugees would be best placed in large towns around here like Grantham and Market Deeping.
'It just came out of the blue, we knew nothing of it.'
Liz says she believes her village is poorly suited to home refugees as there is 'no infrastructure.'
She added: 'We want this done in their best interests, these people deserved to be helped and supported, but this is not the best way to do that.
'My stepfather is Ukrainian, I know how hard working they are.'
Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: 'We've got people struggling to get on the housing ladder and yet they find room for refugees.
'They should be going to bigger towns and cities where there's a bigger housing stock.'
However, other locals disagreed and welcomes the refugees. Liam Dodds, 44, added: 'They have got to go somewhere and I for one would welcome them.
'Some of these people have gone through suffering you couldn't imagine so I think we need to put things into perspective and help where we can.
'They are probably desperate families looking to catch a break, this is the least we can do for them.'
South Kesteven District Council said the homes will be given to those who have arrived legally in the country before being used by families on the council's housing register
The council said the dozen homes were already identified for social housing and are the first of 21 earmarked for the re-homing scheme
South Kesteven District Council said the homes will be given to those who have arrived legally in the country before being used by families on the council's housing register.
Cabinet member for housing and planning, Councillor Phil Dilks said: 'The Government funding had specific timelines for their process.
'Options were explored across the district and the opportunity to purchase 12 suitable houses in Langtoft was identified as the most appropriate way to meet the urgent demands placed around sourcing accommodation.
'The 12 units were already identified for social housing as per the planning permission; SKDC chose to pursue these under best value for money.
'There are five families in Langtoft on the housing register, all in the lower needs band of four or five and all with no emergency housing need.
'The original report was shared and fully supported at full council, with specifics on location shared at the earliest appropriate time in line with procedure for this or any other acquisition.'
