Drop-in event for 'much needed' new council homes in Minehead

Minehead residents in need of council housing are being invited to express their interest at a drop-in event this week.

Somerset Council is currently constructing the first new council properties in Minehead in a generation, delivering 33 flats and 21 low-cost houses on the Rainbow Way development site on Seaward Way.

The development – which secured revised planning permission in April 2022 – is expected to completed by the summer of 2024.

Residents are being encouraged to attend a drop-in event at Minehead Cricket Club on Tuesday afternoon (September 19) to see how the site is progressing and register ther interest in the new properties.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, housing and culture, said: “It’s exciting to see these much-needed new homes starting to take shape. I hope as many residents as possible will come along to the event to find out more.

“These are the first new council homes to be built in Minehead in a generation and that is a great achievement, particularly as the properties will comply with 2050 zero-carbon standards.”

The homes are being delivered by Classic Builders, under a £9.5m contract with the council, with officers hoping some of the new homes can be released for occupation by the spring of next year.

The new homes come with a range of low-carbon technologies built in, including solar panels on the roofs, thermal storage with smart controllers and air source heat pumps – which should lead to lower energy bills for residents.

Priority for the new properties – a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses and one- and two-bedroom flats – will be given to those living, in or having connections to Minehead, and adjoining the parishes of Minehead Without, Selworthy, Wootton Courtenay, Timberscombe and Dunster.

The drop-in event will be held at the cricket club (adjacent to the site) on Tuesday (September 19) between 2pm and 5pm.