The Mayor of Lewes, Councillor Ruth O'Keith, has cut the ribbon on the 'topping out' ceremony for Clayhills, marking the completion of a successful housing collaboration between the private and public sectors.

In the spring of 2014, developers Blue Sonic Limited will be launching Clayhills into the market, an exciting new development of houses and apartments centrally located within the County Town of Lewes within East Sussex.

In order to bring forward Clayhills through the last five years of recession, Blue Sonic have worked closely with their funders Royal Bank of Scotland and the Homes and Communities Agency, as well as their shared ownership housing partners Affinity Sutton and Lewes District Council Planning Department, with a view to ensuring that Clayhills would become a reality and hit the market as the housing market shows strong signs of recovery.

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Clayhills benefits from £1.9m of the government's Get Britain Building funding, via the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for 31 open market homes, and 10 homes for shared ownership provided by Affinity Sutton Housing Association. Overall, Clayhills will provide nine 3- and 4-bedroom homes and 32 1- and 2-bedroom apartments.

Managing Director of Blue Sonic Andrew Newton commented: "Topping out Clayhills truly marks the end of what for me, as a small house builder, has been a tale of trial over adversity.

"When you take into account the difficulties small developers have had to contend with through the depths of the recent recession, Clayhills demonstrates that it is only with the continued support from both local and central Government that businesses such as mine can bring forward this type of much needed housing for the area.

"This event is attended by representatives from the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Home and Communities Agency and Affinity Sutton Housing Association, all of whom have been extremely supportive in making this development become a reality.

"It is encouraging to see that RBS, a largely state owned bank and the government, have been so committed to delivering this housing project and we have also been very grateful for the support from our partners Affinity Sutton who will be dealing with the shared ownership housing."

(CD/JP)