“Quality, affordable housing like this is just what is needed and will provide a real boost to the local area,” said Graham.
The development on the site of the former St Luke’s Catholic Primary School is made up of two, three and four-bed homes and two-bed apartments.
It will be completed within the next two months although some Trust customers have already moved into the development in Ashton Drive.
“I went into one of the houses that a family had moved into just two weeks ago and they were very happy and had already made it into a real family home,” said Graham.
“I visited the site just after building had started and it was great to go back and see it in its final stages. I was very impressed with the quality of build and design of the development, as were the families I spoke to.”
Customers were able to bid for the homes, which come complete with solar panels and low energy high efficiency heating systems to help keep bills low, through the Trust’s choice based letting system – Trust HomeChoice.
This system offers people more choice over where they want to live by giving applicants the opportunity to bid for new and vacant properties owned by Weaver Vale Housing Trust, as well as Chester & District Housing Trust, Cheshire West and Chester Council and other registered social landlords.
Priority for some of the homes has been given to customers who are employed or enrolled in education or training programmes and five apartments were reserved for single people under 55 to provide a boost for younger, single people looking for a home.
Successful applicants for the apartments, or members of their household, must have no criminal record or evidence of behaviour linked to any anti-social behaviour, violence, neighbour nuisance, drugs or alcohol.
Steve Jennings, Chief Executive of Weaver Vale Housing Trust, said: “High quality housing is in real demand at the moment and we are delighted to be able to provide our customers with homes of the finest design and, more crucially, that they can afford to live in.
“Despite a fragile economy and housing market we are committed to creating communities that are built to last and that people are proud to live in.”