The Housing Minister is set to visit Jaywick Sands later this month to see new homes being built in the community.
Rt Hon Chris Pincher MP will visit on 23 July to tour the Tendring District Council (TDC) development, with the trip arranged by Clacton MP Giles Watling.
Ten new homes – five for rent and five starter homes – are being built by TDC in Lotus Way, with work by contractor Gipping Construction almost complete.
During his visit the minister will be shown around the new high-quality flood resilient homes, and also tour the local community to see the wider context.
Housing is one of the key issues in Jaywick Sands. It provides a challenge in terms of residents’ quality of life, with some substandard housing in the area which was originally constructed as holiday homes.
Mr Watling has also held discussions with ministers previously on potential reforms to the welfare system to incentivise private landlords to improve the quality of their properties. As a result legislative proposals are now being presented to the Government, withthis work led by TDC and also supported by Sir Bernard Jenkin MP, who represents the neighbouring Harwich and North Essex constituency.
Mr Watling said: “Jaywick Sands has great potential and a fantastic sense of community, as well as deep rooted problems which we are working together to address. Now is the time to strike out for a better future for residents and this visit is an opportunity to move that process along quicker, and to demonstrate the excellent efforts of TDC in the area.
“The council has worked hard to find an innovative legislative solution, which Sir Bernard and I support fully. More details will be published in due course, but it is hoped this will improve the quality of housing and reduce the financial burden on the taxpayer, who currently fund a housing benefit payments in the area to landlords who offer substandard accommodation.
“This is a potentially positive change for Jaywick Sands and we will be making the case to the Minister during his visit that Jaywick Sands should get the help it needs to address its challenges.”
Cllr Paul Honeywood, Tendring District Council Cabinet Member for Housing and with special responsibility for Jaywick Sands, added: “We have always sought to take a holistic view of the area; tackling housing issues requires not just new high quality homes but also a wider look at what can be done to make change happen.
“We look forward to welcoming the Minister to see the positive work we have done so far in Jaywick Sands, and hope to secure his support for wider changes going forwards.”
