Chippenham homes transfer deal ‘worrying’
2:00pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in Latest News By Alex Winter
More than 25 properties in the Kingsley Road area of Chippenham, which are managed by Knightstone Housing Association, will soon be transferred to Sovereign.
Although the company says residents living in the houses should notice no change, if residents decide to leave the properties under Sovereign management they will be sold, not re-let.
Councillor Bill Douglas says he fears the move will reduce affordable housing in the town.
“There are 27 houses affected in Kingsley Road,” he said.
“They will be sold off when people move on, so it is a worry. This goes against everything councillors have been fighting for. The Government specifies that 40 per cent of any new-built housing developments must be affordable, and Wiltshire Council take that seriously, but with 27 being lost from Chippenham, it is quite a blow.”
Coun Judy Rooke, who is the councillor for the road, said: “If this is the case that the houses will be sold, it is certainly very alarming.
“I think there is no problem with the authorities swapping houses – it makes sense that, if Knightstone are based closer to the properties owned by Sovereign and vice-versa, they will be easier to manage.
“However, if it is true that a housing authority are party to taking affordable housing away from Chippenham, then that would be very worrying indeed.”
The move is part of a wider initiative by the housing associations. Knightstone, based in Worle, Weston-super-Mare and already one of the largest registered social landlords in the county, plans to swap its 719 homes in Swindon and Wiltshire for 641 homes in Somerset owned by Sovereign South+West The two say the deal will give their residents a more locally-based and efficient service, including an improved repairs and maintenance service.
Heather Bowman, managing director of Newbury-based Sovereign, said: “Knightstone has a strong presence in Somerset, and we are confident that the proposed transfer to Knightstone will lead to a more responsive service.
“Similarly, we can assure Knightstone residents in Swindon and Wiltshire that they will receive a quicker and more local service because we are more embedded in the community here.”
A spokesperson from Knight-stone said: “This is a straight swap. Residents shouldn’t notice a difference – it certainly should not affect the service provided in Chippenham.”
