News

Tuesday 26th July 2016

Local Families Move Into Affordable Homes

South Hams District Council has been working with South Devon Rural Housing Association, Community Council for Devon and Halwell and Moreleigh Parish Council for the last 6 years to bring forward the development.

South Hams District Council allocated £40,000 from the Housing Capital Programme to support this development of much needed rural affordable housing and provided an equity stake under the SHIRE (South Hams Intermediate Rent Enterprise) which has delivered over 30 homes in South Hams in the last eight years.

To welcome families to their new homes, a community event celebrated the completion of four of the homes in Moreleigh. Dr Sarah Wollaston, MP, representatives from South Devon Rural Housing Association and South Hams District Council attended, along with the families moving in, the Parish Council and members of the community.

Dr Sarah Wollaston, MP said: “This is a fantastic achievement for all involved, schemes like this help to keep communities alive.  Affordable housing in communities makes a real difference throughout South Hams.  Thank you to everyone who has been involved.”

Built to a high standard, with three out of the four homes to lifetime homes standard and featuring economic air sourced heat pumps, under floor heating and other features. The homes will each have three bedrooms and are an average size of 96 square meters.

Four of the homes will be available at affordable rents for families with a local connection to the parish and a housing need as assessed by Devon Home Choice.

The Collings family have been allocated one of the affordable rented homes and are due to move in shortly.

Mr Collings explains: “I grew up in the village and my family live here, it is great to be able to live close to them so that we can provide support for each other.”

This is a community led project which was championed by the parish council and local people, particularly the local builder and landowner. South Devon Rural Housing Association facilitated the development providing expertise, support and funds. A true community led development.

The remaining 8 homes will be available for discounted sale to help families trying to get their first step on the property ladder. The discounted homes for sale will be at 80% or less of market values to local people and held in perpetuity as discounted housing for local people. A local builder is building the homes at less than normal builder’s profit.

Cllr Michael Hicks, Ward Member for Blackawton and Stoke Fleming: “I am delighted to say that we have been working in partnership to deliver these affordable homes for Halwell and Moreleigh Parish. This is a great example of partnership working and collaborating with local communities to deliver housing with local need in mind, congratulations to all involved.

Steve Prime, CEO of South Devon Rural Housing Association, added “This is a culmination of around 10 years of hard work to bring affordable housing to Halwell and Moreleigh, which will now provide homes for local people for years to come, a great result for all concerned’.