An exception to the planning rules means that Norman Close, a site outside the market town of Hailsham, has been used to provide 18 much-needed rented family homes for local people.
“Despite the recession, house prices in Wealden are still the highest in East Sussex. This makes it much more difficult for a family on a below average income to afford their own home here than elsewhere in the South East,” said Mary Clare Deane, Director of Community and Environmental Services at Wealden District Council.
“And the price of housing land makes it very difficult to build low cost housing for rent without an enormous public subsidy. That is why developments like Norman Close are so important. As the land is just outside the area permitted for housing development, it can only be used for affordable housing, which will be of great help to the people of Hailsham.”
There are currently over 500 families in need of suitable affordable accommodation in the Hailsham area.
The homes have been built, and will be managed, by the housing association Saxon Weald. Chief Executive, David Standfast, said: “Wealden District is desperately short of affordable housing, particularly in rural areas. Small developments of attractive and affordable homes like Norman Close can help to keep young families in our towns and villages”.
“We are delighted to have worked with Wealden District Council and our contractors Trinity Homes on this scheme and look forward to other projects in the future.”
Norman Close has been developed by Trinity Homes and will provide twelve 2-bedroomed homes; four 3-bedroomed houses and two 4-bedroomed homes, in line with existing needs.
Marcus Cory, Managing Director of Trinity Homes (UK) Ltd, said that they were delighted to be involved in giving local people the chance to live in such a scenic area on a new development of energy-efficient homes.
The site is also provided with bird and bat nesting boxes, helping protect and save local wildlife: “It’s been our pleasure to work in partnership with Saxon Weald and Wealden District Council on this development.”
The site of Norman Close in Battle Road originally consisted of one house and number of outbuildings set in an acre of land. The owner contacted Wealden District Council after reading in the local newspaper a call from Councillor Dick Angel about the need for suitable sites for affordable housing. The development also replaces the house that stood on the site with a three bedroom house for sale on the open market.
“I am very pleased this site has become available,” said Councillor Angel. “Large private developments in Wealden always include a proportion of affordable housing but it is important to provide smaller scale developments, particularly in the District’s villages.”
note:
According to East Sussex in Figures, average house prices in Wealden are 8.5 per cent times the average male income in the district, compared to a 6.5 per cent average for the South East of England.
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