Red Kite Community Housing has successfully obtained £4.9 million from Homes England to build 48 community-based social rent homes.

These homes, set to thoroughly 'enhance and expand' the affordable housing options in High Wycombe, will be distributed across two separate locations in Bourne End and Taplow.

Windrush House in Bourne End will get 21 refurbished and newly-developed homes, modernising and revamping the site.

There, outdated living quarters will be transformed into contemporary and snug residences catered for the community.

Red Kite said there is a steady influx of tenants into Huntercombe Park in Taplow, indicating 27 newly-built flats there are already meeting the high call for affordable homes.

Over the past few weeks, Red Kite acquired these homes and residents have promptly begun moving in.

Both locations sit under the radar of Red Kite, who owns and manages more than 6,500 homes in the Wycombe district and surrounding. 

Common concerns surrounding the progressively inflating cost of living mean social rent offers vital reliability and safety for occupants.

Head of Development Alan Wylde said: "Here at Red Kite, we’re committed to delivering new, high-quality, and affordable homes.

"Securing this grant from Homes England is a fantastic result as it enables us to expand our housing offerings, providing more homes for families within our community at social rent."

The initial purpose for Huntercombe Park, encompassing the newly completed 53 flats, was office buildings.

The most recent handovers of flats transpired on May 31 and May 17, 2023, in Jubilee and Kennet House respectively.

Elsewhere, Windrush House, formerly a sheltered accommodation in Blind Lane, is undergoing a combination of refurbishment and new builds.

This transformation will earmark the site for 21 up-to-date apartments.

The construction process, facilitated by Alexander James Contracts Ltd, commenced onsite and has an expected finish date in September 2024. 

However, the overhaul of the sheltered housing in Bourne End was met with disagreement from locals in 2019.

The primary issue stems from the proposed 12 parking spaces not being enough for the 21 apartments.

Jeremy Downing, a Blind Lane resident, addressed this concern: "Providing just 12 useable parking spaces for 21 flats is unreasonable.

"According to the stats on your [Red Kite’s] website, the average number of cars per property in the local area is 1.6, yet you are proposing less than one parking space per flat."

He further highlighted the existing parking problems and the prospective escalation due to the redevelopment.