East Cambs residents keen to find affordable homes in Ely have been given a boost with the announcement that all 27 new properties at Arbour Square in Ely will be affordable.

In a bid to help local families, Palace Green Homes – which is the development subsidiary of East Cambridgeshire District Council – has made 100% of homes on the site affordable – far exceeding the 30% threshold developers are required to build as part of Section 106 agreements.

Each of the properties will be available for social rent, helping to meet the growing demand for affordable housing across Ely and the wider district.

The new scheme will comprise 8 one-bedroom flats, 10 two-bedroom flats and nine three-bedroom houses, the first of which are expected to be available in 2026.

It is being supported by funding from Homes England and a £72,000 grant from the council set aside for the purpose of delivering affordable housing.

Once complete, the homes will be made available for social rent though Havebury Housing Partnership, a not-for-profit affordable housing and social housing association which manages properties across Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

Councillor Anna Bailey, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said:

“We feel very strongly that people should not be forced to live away from the communities they have been brought up in and love simply because they cannot afford to live here. 

“These 27 new affordable homes, available for social rent, will be a significant addition to the work already undertaken by the council to help people who are struggling to find quality affordable homes and we are proud that our development company is working in partnership with Havebury to deliver this much needed housing."