AN AFFORDABLE housing scheme has given a young couple their first step on the property ladder.

After struggling to find a home for five years Sammy King, 28 and her fiancé Terry Higgs, 25 were given the key to their new home in the May Street development in Brookvale.

As previously reported in The Gazette the site, which is run by Sovereign Housing, has 12 new affordable homes, which have now been completed and residents are starting to move into the properties.

Although Sammy and Terry have been together for five years, and engaged for three, they have never been able to share a home before until now.

They previously stayed at the YMCA, which could not offer them a room as a couple and they had to live separately.

Sammy, who is studying kitchen fitting at Basingstoke College of Technology, said: “It took at least a week for the shock to wear off that we had our own home.

“We love being able to come in, shut the door and relax in our own space.”

In Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s planning policy, it states all new housing developments must include at least 40 per cent affordable housing.

Four of the homes which have been built on the May Street site have been allocated as homes that can help first time buyers get on the property ladder.

Deputy leader of the borough council Cllr Terri Reid said: “Working in partnership with Sovereign we were able to ensure we made the best possible use of the land that we own for the benefit of local people. There is a real need for these affordable homes including homes to help people get the first step on the property ladder.

“We will continue to work in partnership and to look at innovative ways in which we can provide more homes, and in particular more affordable housing, within the borough.”