Families handed keys for new affordable homes in Somerset
24 new affordable homes in Martock, Somerset have been handed to families, as the council calls for more rural social housing.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Several families in Somerset have received the keys to new affordable homes, with 24 properties built in Martock near Yeovil. The development, which took nine years from planning to completion, offers homes for affordable rent to local people, including community carer Kayleigh and her 18-year-old son Jake, who moved in last month.
Kayleigh said she needed to downsize and wanted to be in a place with more amenities than her previous isolated rural home. The village has shops, a doctor's surgery and opticians, which she described as a major improvement.
Somerset Council is pushing for more social homes in the county's smaller towns and villages, noting that 20% of people on the housing waiting list live in rural areas. Last year, more than a hundred affordable homes were completed in Somerset's rural communities.
The housing association behind the Martock scheme is also working on a former school site in Somerton, where property prices are high. A spokesperson said customers often want to return to villages where they grew up or are living with parents or sofa-surfing, and need affordable homes to stay near family support networks.
The council reports that another 25 developments are in progress, which could deliver 450 affordable homes across rural Somerset. The aim is to strike a balance between providing homes for local people and protecting the county's rolling hills.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| 20% of people on Somerset Council's housing waiting list live in rural areas. | |
| 24 new homes have been built in Martock near Yeovil. | |
| Another 25 rural developments could deliver 450 affordable homes. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The BBC Points West report focuses on the human interest story of a local family moving into a new affordable home, while linking it to the wider policy context of rural housing shortages. It highlights the council's call for more social homes and includes on-the-ground quotes from a resident and the housing association.
- “Well I didn't really choose Martock, it chose me because I needed a downsize and we needed to be somewhere where there was more stuff to do”
- “We've got customers that have returned to villages where they grew up and want to be close to their family.”
Broadcast Timeline
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