A new development of affordable housing in the Forest of Dean has been completed. The Chapel Gate site in Newent has been delivered by housing association Platform Housing Group who will manage the 40 apartments and homes, all offering accommodation at affordable rent.

It is the first time Platform has built in the Forest of Dean, partnering with developer Aqua Construction who built the homes using modern methods and a combination of traditional brick and stone, complimenting the surrounding environment.

Upon finishing this development, Platform are soon to deliver more affordable housing elsewhere in the area in Coleford. Regional head of delivery for Platform Pawel Wiktor said: “The development looks great and we thank the parters at Aqua, Homes England and the local authority for their hard work in achieving completion of the homes. Bringing affordable housing to communities like the one here in Newent offer valuable ways of keeping families together and strengthening the area as a whole. Our teams and colleagues are looking forward to working with the community to support them now they have the security that comes with a place to call home. We’re proud to have delivered Chapel Gate for the Forest of Dean and hope to continue providing more homes for more people in the coming years.”

Construction began in 2022 but came to a halt when the previous building firm entered into financial difficulty, meaning a new partner, Aqua Construction, were appointed.

Craig King, construction manager at Aqua Construction, said: “We successfully completed an unfinished development after taking over from a previous contractor. Our team worked diligently to stabilise progress on the stalled site and restore confidence in the project and wider community.

We are proud to apply our expertise to ensure every home is delivered to the standard residents deserve. By working closely with the Platform team, we helped re‑establish trust in local housing delivery and ensured this site became a well‑integrated and responsibly managed part of the town.”

As a registered provider of social housing, Platform own over 50,000 homes across the Midlands and offer affordable housing and support to more than 120,000 customers.