Sage Homes has handed over the keys to its first 50 residents at the new Brookleigh development in Burgess Hill under a major public-private sector partnership.
The Shared Ownership and Affordable Rent homes are the first affordable properties to be finished at Brookleigh, which is a partnership between Mid Sussex District Council, housing providers, and Homes England, the government's housing delivery arm.
Tabitha Lane and Charlie Singer have moved into their new two-bedroom flat with their daughter Ava-Grace, aged three, and 15-month-old son Albie.
Charlie, who is a trained gardener and primary carer for Ava-Grace, who has autism, said their new home is better and cheaper than their old rented flat/house.
He said: "I was blown away by it – I had never lived in a new-build before, so to be offered the option of living here was amazing. It's more affordable, and it's good to be part of the new community that's being built here."
Their new home was built by Countryside Partnerships, who are delivering the first 460 homes as part of the wider Brookleigh development, which will ultimately deliver 3,500 new homes. As part of the development, Countryside Properties will provide over 50% as affordable homes (237 units), managed by Sage Homes.
Graham Hyslop, Director for Projects (South) at Homes England, said: "Having our first residents move into their new family homes is a really important – probably the most important - milestone for Brookleigh. Homes England is committed to placemaking and all that that involves – including providing supporting infrastructure like connecting roads, footpaths, cycleways, green corridors, schools and shared outdoor spaces to enable more new homes to be built here and to create a real feeling of "place". I look forward to watching this sustainable community continue to come to life as more people and families move in over the coming months and start to use the excellent facilities Brookleigh will provide, both now and in the future."