Our West Midlands team has described its pride in delivering a scheme to help first-home buyers get on the property ladder.

First Homes, an initiative from Homes England, offers first-time buyers a minimum discount of 30 per cent on the market value of a new home.

The First Homes properties were granted approval by Stoke-on-Trent City Council at the developer’s Foxfields site, giving more first-time buyers the opportunity to take their first step onto the property ladder. Since the scheme’s launch earlier in the year, all of the properties have been purchased by local buyers.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Chris Robinson, and ward councillor and Cabinet Member for Health, Cllr Desiree Elliott visited the Foxfields site to celebrate the success of the scheme in unlocking homeownership for the people of Stoke-on-Trent.

Commenting on the visit, Cllr Robinson said:

“The First-time buyer discount scheme at Persimmon Homes has been a success. This will empower a new generation of homeowners and offer a lifeline to those who may have thought owning a home was out of reach.

Persimmon Homes have transformed the landscape of home ownership, enabling individuals to overcome the financial barriers they may have faced as well as providing a sustainable path for first-time buyers to thrive.

It serves as a great example of how the private sector can contribute meaningfully to addressing our housing challenges”.

Cllr Elliot added:

“From my visit to the site at Foxfields in Stoke-on-Trent, I believe that the discount scheme has been welcomed by those yearning to step into homeownership. By offering support and affordable housing this is a great opportunity for local buyers to benefit from the scheme.

This will certainly help transform the ambitions of many into reality allowing individuals to take control of their future, providing them with the foundation of purchasing their first home”.

Daniel Hassall, Managing Director at Persimmon Homes West Midlands said:

“Nothing fills us with more pride than helping people buy their own home and it’s always incredibly exciting to see our customers moving into their properties.

“The First Homes scheme is an exciting new initiative to help first-time buyers take their first step onto the property ladder. We’re delighted to make homes available to buy through the scheme in the West Midlands and were very pleased to invite Cllr Robinson and Cllr Elliott along to visit our Foxfields development.”