FIVE new affordable homes in Salisbury have been handed over to Wiltshire Council, but with demand for housing still high, questions remain about whether it will make a meaningful dent in the shortage.

Housebuilder Bellway has delivered the first properties at its Spirewood Grange development, off Odstock Road.

The homes – four two-bedroom terraces and one three-bedroom house – were made available through Homes4Wiltshire on April 15.

They are the first of 20 affordable rental homes planned for the site, with the remaining properties expected to be completed in phases by spring 2027.

All 20 homes will be managed by Wiltshire Council and aimed at people who cannot afford private rents – an issue that continues to affect many local families.

The wider development will include 86 homes in total, with 34 classed as “affordable”, including some shared ownership properties.

Sales manager for Bellway Wessex Emily Putnam said: “The provision of high-quality affordable housing is essential to the creation of strong and inclusive new communities, enabling people with local connections to put down roots in the place they call home.

“This is especially true in Salisbury, where sharply rising rental costs in the private sector have significantly increased the demand for affordable homes.

“Spirewood Grange is conveniently located just over a mile from Salisbury city centre and is served by regular buses to the city centre and nearby Salisbury District Hospital, making it a suitable choice for people who don’t have their own vehicle.

“Residents here will also benefit from an area of public open space offering views of the city’s famous cathedral.

“We are proud to be working in partnership with Wiltshire Council to deliver these much-needed affordable homes for Salisbury residents. We look forward to handing over the remaining properties and to seeing them being enjoyed by local people and families.”

The council says developments like this are part of a wider effort to tackle housing need – though supply continues to fall short of demand.

Cabinet member for housing Cllr Adrian Foster said: “It’s great to see the first of these affordable homes now completed.

“These homes will be let through Homes4Wiltshire, helping ensure they are allocated to people in housing need and used to provide affordable rented accommodation locally.

“Bringing forward developments like this is an important part of increasing the supply of affordable and social housing in Salisbury, and we look forward to seeing the rest of the homes completed as the project continues.”