Date: 17/06/2009
More than 70 per cent of new homes in High Peak in the year to April were built on previously developed land.
The construction of 119 houses on previously developed sites dwarfed previous totals and underlined the Borough Council's commitment to minimizing the impact of new development on High Peak's stunning landscape.
Of the new housing, 17 per cent was affordable, which meant that 29 new homes were available for rent or shared ownership via a registered social landlord.
Apart from new housing, 20 properties were brought back into use, having been empty, derelict or used for non-residential purposes.
Published this week by the council, the figures for housing completions in 2008/09 reveal the impact of the recession. The construction of 167 houses is more than 50 per cent lower than in the previous year, in line with the national picture.
Said Cllr Linda Baldry, Executive Councillor for Planning: "Although the numbers are down as a consequence of the current national downturn, I'm pleased that our planning policies and development control decisions have helped deliver more homes on previously developed land than for a number of years.
"It is a main priority of the council to ensure that a proportion of all new housing is affordable, and these figures show that we are continuing to do this", she stressed.