Work is underway on a landmark housing project that will provide much needed homes for affordable rent and shared ownership in the heart of a popular Shropshire market town.

Planning permission for nine new homes on the site of the former Beehive pub in Shifnal was granted in March and the builder TC Homes, working in partnership with Housing Plus Group, has started on site.

Kerry Bolister, Director of Development at Housing Plus Group explained: “Since it was closed in 2017, the pub and its car park have become something of an eyesore, attracting anti-social behaviour and many in the town will welcome the start of work to transform the site.

“The scheme has also won the backing of councillors for providing homes in an area with very high demand for affordable accommodation.”

TC Homes, which has worked with Housing Plus Group on previous projects and brought this development opportunity to the attention of the housing association, is the construction partner on the project that will see nine, three bedroomed houses built (six houses for affordable rent and three for shared ownership).

Built as three terraces, they’re expected to be completed by May 2022 and Tim Charnley, TC Homes Director, commented: “We are excited to get started on our new project with the Housing Plus Group. The build will consist of nine affordable houses for the local community and will utilise a space that has sat dormant for some time.

“With the country having such a large housing shortfall, we hope our contribution to the construction of affordable homes will benefit the surrounding community and provide opportunities to local sub-contractors and suppliers.

“We appreciate that any kind of construction can cause some inconvenience to those directly affected but we hope with working in partnership with residents, schools and the wider community we can achieve another fantastic development.”

The development is part of wider plans by Housing Plus Group to start 2,000 new homes across Shropshire and Staffordshire for rent, shared ownership and outright sale by 2023 as the organisation strives to make a positive difference to the homes, lives and communities it serves.