FORTY-SIX new affordable homes have been brought into use at Old Sarum adding to housing supply in an area facing rising rents and limited availability.

The scheme was delivered through a partnership between housebuilder Dandara Southern and housing provider Abri, with the final homes handed over recently.

The development includes 11 homes for affordable rent and 35 for shared ownership.

Most are two or three-bedroom properties, reflecting demand for family housing identified by Wiltshire Council.

Funding came from Abri, supported by grant funding through its strategic partnership with Homes England.

Old Sarum was chosen for its location on the northern edge of Salisbury, close to transport links and local services.

The site was seen as an opportunity to increase affordable housing provision in north Salisbury and support the council’s wider aim of offering more tenure options.

Russell Turner, director of partnerships at Dandara, said, “Getting to handover at Old Sarum is such an important moment.

“This was a site where we could stop and ask what would make the biggest difference locally, and the answer was clear – more genuinely affordable homes, delivered well.

“Working with Abri gave us the space to focus on that properly, from the mix of homes through to how the place feels day to day.

“It’s a great example of what partnership can do when everyone is pulling in the same direction and keeping local need front of mind.”

The development has been designed to be tenure-blind and to fit in with the existing Old Sarum community.

Features include open space, green buffers and landscaping aimed at improving biodiversity.

Homes are equipped with energy-saving measures such as air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels on selected properties, EV charging points and high-performance building materials.

Sam Stone, director of land and planning at Abri, said, “The completion of Old Sarum shows what can be achieved when there is a shared understanding of local housing pressures and a willingness to work collaboratively to address them.

“Demand for both affordable rent and shared ownership remains high across Salisbury, particularly for family homes, and this scheme will make a real difference.”

The project also supported local jobs during construction. Salisbury Football Club, which neighbours the site, was sponsored during the build as part of arrangements linked to the use of its car park.