Date published: 2026-09-15 | Category: Delivering for local residents, energy efficiency, Housing, Improving people's lives, Keynsham Area
Ten new energy-efficient B&NES council homes in Keynsham have been completed and are ready for residents to move in, providing local people with secure, affordable places to call home.
The high-quality apartments, named Great Barn Court, are giving local people the chance to put down roots and build a more secure future. Delivered through Bath & North East Somerset Council's B&NES Homes programme by Aequus Construction Limited (ACL), the council-owned development company. The homes will provide much-needed social rented housing at a time of intense pressure on local housing.
Built on council-owned land that was previously used for informal parking, the development formerly known as Danes Court, provides six one-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments in two separate blocks. High-performance insulation, solar photovoltaic panels and an all-electric heating system will make the homes more energy efficient and cheaper to heat.
The completion of Great Barn Court is another important milestone for the B&NES Homes programme, which is transforming surplus council sites into new council housing and unlocking more opportunities to deliver affordable homes across Bath and North East Somerset.
A wider pipeline of developments is also progressing at Bath Western Riverside, Bath Quays North, Bath Quays South and a number of smaller sites across the district.
Councillor Matt McCabe, Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development, said: "Seeing these new homes completed and ready for residents is fantastic news. Every new affordable home we deliver makes a real difference to people and families who need somewhere secure, high-quality and affordable to live. These are modern, energy-efficient homes that will be cheaper to heat, helping residents with the cost of living while reducing carbon emissions.
"Great Barn Court shows what can be achieved when we make the best use of council-owned land and work closely with our partners to bring forward sites that might otherwise remain undeveloped and it’s another important step in our ambitious B&NES Homes programme. We are building momentum and creating a pipeline of new homes that will help us tackle the housing challenges facing our area and provide more affordable homes for local people in the years ahead."
The housing will be owned directly by Bath & North East Somerset Council and let through Homesearch. Three of the apartments were set aside for care experienced young people.
A B&NES resident who has been rehoused through Homesearch, said: I’ve been sofa surfing for ages and it’s been really hard. I tried a shared place, but it didn’t work out. I’ve just passed my apprenticeship and I’m getting my own flat and it’s amazing. It’s the final piece of the jigsaw.”
The homes are part of the council's wider commitment to increase the supply of affordable housing and deliver the right homes in the right places, close to jobs, services and transport links. The council continues to bring forward a range of housing projects through direct delivery and partnership working to help meet local housing need.
Vic O’Brien, Aequus Group Non-Executive Director, said “These ten energy-efficient and sustainable affordable homes for local people brings our total delivery to 196 homes across our partnerships – a fantastic achievement for the Aequus team and for B&NES as our sole shareholder. Having completed our current construction programme, we are now looking ahead and working with the council to bring forward future sites so we can continue this success.
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