Keyworkers helped onto housing ladder through First Homes

A nurse and a police officer are among the first people to be helped on to the housing ladder through a new affordable home ownership scheme, the government announced today (26 November 2021).

The keyworkers from Bolsover, Derbyshire, are benefiting from the government’s First Homes scheme, which offers homes at a discount of at least 30% of the market price to local first time buyers and keyworkers – helping young people and families stay in the communities where they want to live and work.

Nurse Laura said:

“It feels very surreal now we have moved into our house, it has been a long time coming and something we have worked towards for the past few years.

“When the First Homes scheme became available it was too much of a good opportunity to miss, it enabled us to put down a 10% deposit on our house – something we would probably not have been able to do without the scheme.

“There are so many advantages with the scheme and it gave us a chance to own a 3-bed detached house and our first home to grow in to.”

Police officer Phoebe said:

“I’ve always wanted to own my own home, I secured my dream career at 22 and worked so hard to save up. It’s such a nice feeling knowing you have something to call your own, it’s my pride and joy.

“It’s great that through First Homes you can get a discount on a house which you would be saving up years and years for. It’s also nice that the scheme prioritises people who are in key working environments – giving something back to keyworkers.”

NHS worker Nicky Bembridge said:

“I’ve been looking for a place since probably the end of last year and came across a few of the houses at Keepmoat and enquired about them.

“It’s just going to be nice to have my own space, that is actually mine, not rented or anything like that. It’s just going to be fantastic.”

In addition, a total of 1,500 First Homes will now be built in over 100 locations across England by March 2023 following successful bidding by housebuilders. This follows plans by Eastleigh Borough Council to deliver 200 First Homes in the borough – the single largest to date.

The scheme is helping the government deliver on its mission to level up communities across the country by increasing the supply of affordable housing and creating jobs.

First Homes is currently in its pilot phase with a number of early delivery projects supporting the roll out of the scheme. Sites in Bolsover, Cannock and Newton Aycliffe are among the first to put homes on the market. The government estimated that at least 10,000 First Homes will be delivered across the country each year by 2027/28.

You can read more about the First Homes scheme.