A new development of eight properties specifically reserved for those with a connection to the village of Caxton was officially opened by Conservative MP Heidi Allen on Friday 10 March.

The Ermine Street development is a partnership project between affordable housing provider CHS Group, Cambridge and County Developments and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The mix of one, two and three bedroom properties are for social rent and shared ownership, with six homes reserved for rent and two for joint purchase. The development is proving popular with all but one property occupied or reserved. All houses in the scheme have a high level of efficiency and are fitted with thermal insulation and air source heat pumps.

Nigel Howlett, Chief Executive at CHS Group, said: “This our third housing scheme in Caxton, and I’m really proud of the work we’re doing. We’re celebrating our 90^th anniversary this year, and we’ve stayed true to the values that were introduced when CHS was set up in 1927.

“We have managed to provide social rent for as long as we can, and I am really pleased we can still provide affordable housing to the people of Cambridgeshire, so thank you to everyone who has made this happen.”

Heidi Allen, Conservative MP for South Cambridgeshire, said: “We’re so lucky to have organisations like CHS working with us in partnership.

“I want CHS to keep working with local communities so they continue to find little plots of land like this. We need to keep building affordable homes for local young families and these are fantastic properties. They feel tailor made and I know the new residents will really enjoy living here and contributing to the wider Caxton community.”

Cllr Peter Topping, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, also attended the event and said: “It’s important to have these small scale village developments across South Cambridgeshire coming forward. Working alongside CHS to build innovative homes has been rewarding. We should be looking to develop other communities outside the city centre in the same way.”

CHS owns and manages over 2,800 houses, flats and bungalows in Cambridgeshire. It covers the needs of single people, small and large families on low incomes and older people.