3 November 2009
The official opening of five new affordable homes at Hobbs Row, Brayford took place on Friday 30 October.
Hastoe Housing Association invited all the partners in the project, including Parish, District and County Councillors to join residents in celebrating the success of a new rural affordable housing scheme specifically for local people.
There were short opening speeches at 11am followed by the presentation of a gift to each of the residents and refreshments in Brayford Village Hall.
Four of the homes are for rent and one of the homes has been sold on a part-buy, part-rent basis. Built on a rural exception site by Morgan Ashurst, the two and three bedroom houses will be managed by Hastoe. Planning permission was only granted because the homes will always be a priority for local people at below open market prices now and in the future.
The success of the project is a result of strong partnerships, local consultation and enthusiasm from the Parish Council as well as great assistance from a Devon County Council grant (from its second home council tax revenue), North Devon Council and from the Homes and Communities Agency.
Shirley Evans-Jones, Regional Manager, Hastoe Housing Association said:-
“We are delighted to be showcasing these five properties which provide local people with the opportunity to rent or own a home of their own in the village. Particular thanks are due to the Parish Council who have been instrumental in this scheme and to the District and County Council for their ongoing support, financial and otherwise, for rural housing initiatives.”
Julian Tewkesbury, who lives at Hobbs Row said:-
“Knowing that these houses were being offered to those of us who are on lower incomes, I had expected to find them built and fitted out to a fairly low specification. When I actually came to see the properties, I was very surprised to find the quality of the build and fitting to be so high. I was particularly impressed with the fitted kitchen, the bathroom and the very solid exterior doors. Also, the garden was laid to turf and a shed was provided. When I realised what I would actually be moving into, it felt like Christmas!”
Cllr Brian Moores, Lead Member for Housing, North Devon Council said:-
"I'm really pleased to see this scheme officially opened. It's a good example of how the Rural Housing Project can work with the Parish Council to provide affordable homes for local people. It's especially pleasing to see the increased revenue from second home Council tax being used by the County and the District for affordable housing in a village which has a higher than average percentage of second homes.
It shows that a good partnership between the Parish, District, County, Hastoe Housing Association and the Rural Housing Enabler can deliver good quality housing for local people."
Devon County Council’s financial contribution of £125,000 to the scheme, which cost just over £769,000, comes from revenue raised from council tax on second homes. The County Council does not have the same responsibility to provide housing in Devon as that of District Councils, but sees it as a local priority because of its direct links with people's health and wellbeing.
Since 2004, the County Council has allocated £14.4 million to affordable housing schemes, extra care and other housing projects to support vulnerable people. They were one of the first local authorities in the country to allocate revenue from council tax on second homes to such schemes.
Local Devon County Councillor, Jeremy Yabsley, said:
"Although Devon County Council is not a housing authority, we are pleased to support our District Council colleagues in addressing Devon's shortage of good quality, affordable homes. I am particularly pleased that this scheme in Brayford will benefit local families, while elsewhere around the county, we are helping to provide affordable housing schemes for vulnerable people with complex care needs."
Anyone interested in project at Brayford or Hastoe’s work in the region should contact the West Office at Dorchester on 01305 250103.
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For more information please contact: Rebecca Beaumont, Hastoe Housing Association on 020 8973 0437 or email:
rbeaumont@hastoe.com
Or contact Mike Bomford at Devon County Council, on 01392 382173 or email:
mike.bomford@devon.gov.uk