SBC Announce Affordable Homes Development

Swale Borough Council (SBC) have announced that they "will be providing housing for in-need families while regenerating Sittingbourne’s Town Centre, thanks to funding from Homes England". 

The council will be creating 51 new high-quality affordable homes on a former car park in Cockleshell Walk, Sittingbourne for local people.

All homes will be classed as Social Rented homes meaning the rent will be around half of the cost of similar privately rented apartments in the area.  

The low rental income makes the £6.4m funding from Home England’s Affordable Homes Programme critical to make sure the scheme could proceed.

SBC have confirmed that this development will provide homes for the borough’s priority households on the housing register and will also "create a more attractive gateway into the High Street and contribute towards the annual housing targets the Government has set for the borough".  

The landscaping, including planting, will significantly improve St Michael’s Road, while providing a biodiversity net gain of 117%, well over the 10% requirement.  

The energy efficient buildings will include modern building techniques, reducing the amount of energy needed to light and heat the homes, saving residents’ money, and reducing the impact on the environment. 

There will also be 28 parking spaces available for residents and 52 cycle spaces across two secure storage spaces, helping to promote active travel within Swale.  

Planning permission for the scheme (23/503228/FULL) was granted in 2025, and the council have appointed a development partner, Regiis, following a competitive tender process, who are in the process of preparing the land for the development.  

Cllr Hannah Perkin, Chair of the council’s Housing, Health and Communities Committee, told SFM News: “The social housing available within Swale simply can’t keep up with the housing register, meaning vulnerable families are having to wait for much-needed homes. There are currently over 1,800 households on the register but only around 350 houses become available each year, meaning these new high-quality builds will help us provide homes for the most in-need families in Swale. When the multi-storey car park was built, it increased the available parking for the town to free up this land to bring forward much needed, high-quality, affordable housing. 

Cllr Perkin went on to add: “Developing these homes ourselves allows us to create a development which truly reflects the heritage and character of the town, while improving the town centre. They will help home Swale’s families, increase the biodiversity of the area and help us meet the annual housing targets set by central government.”