Lovell has completed the first phase of a new development of 22 affordable homes for rent in Cooper Street, near Doncaster town centre.

Housing provider Guinness Northern Counties has been selected by Doncaster Council to manage all 22 of the new rented homes that will be created under the Six Streets regeneration scheme.

Representatives from Guinness Northern Counties took handover of the first three, two-bedroom homes from Lovell which is working with Doncaster Council to create a total of 123 new homes in the area. The overall development will comprise 86 homes for open market sale; 22 properties for rent through Guinness Northern Counties and 15 homes available for shared ownership through the Lovell Choice scheme.

The rented homes will range from two-bedroom flats and bungalows to three- and four-bedroom houses, with phased completions between now and 2014.

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Costs for the 22 rented homes of £1.4 million have been subsidised with a grant of £425,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency. The properties on Cooper Street meet Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 and feature photovoltaic cells, parking spaces and private gardens.

Mayor of Doncaster, Peter Davies, said: "We worked really hard to get private sector funding for this project at a time when developers all over the north seem to have stopped building new homes and Lovell is doing a magnificent job in creating much needed affordable homes here in Doncaster. I'm sure the tenants will enjoy their new homes, which have energy-efficient features and should result in lower energy bills."

Lovell regional business development manager John Hughes said: "Our team is enjoying working with Doncaster Council and Guinness Northern Counties on this key regeneration scheme which will address the need for high-quality, new homes for rent, sale and shared ownership locally. We’re delighted to have completed work on the first new homes for rent."

Guinness Northern Counties and Lovell are also working together to construct a further seven homes for rent on Kirby Street in Mexborough as part of a wider development of 39 properties. The seven rented houses are to be built at a cost of £435,000 with £135,000 subsidy from the Homes and Communities Agency. The first properties are scheduled for completion in December 2012.

(CD)