Hampshire Alliance for Rural Affordable Housing
HARAH
Hampshire Rural Housing Newsletter
Rural Homes for Rural People
Spring 2013
AH Schemes 2013
Headley 10 Units
New HARAH homes
Eversley 9 Units
Charter Alley 10 Units
Hurstbourne Tarrant (2 schemes) 5 & 4 Units
AH schemes with funding schemes on site HARAH has completedAH263 AH schemes complete homes since the partnership Forest National Park started in 2005 and we are on h Downs National Park course to have built more pshire District Boundaries than 250 homes in then Areas five years between 2011 and 2016. All these homes are in villages in Hampshire and are built to meet the needs of people with a strong local connection to the village. Whilst we are pleased with the partnership’s success in building new homes, what is more important is the delight of the residents who are able to stay or return to the village where they were brought up. Martin 6 Units
Whitsbury 6 Units
A recent survey of residents living in these rural homes for local people indicates the positive impact on their lives. Legend
Rotherwick 6 Units
Monxton 4 Units
Grateley 6 Units
Barton Stacey 8 Units
Test Valley
Over Wallop 8 Units
Kings Worthy 25 Units
Littleton 12 Units
Stockbridge
Binsted 10 Units
East Hampshire
Ropley 12 Units
Bordon West Tisted 10 Units
Winchester
Lockerley 5 Units
Bentley 9 Units
Preston Candover 10 Units
Micheldever 2 Units
Alton
Stockbridge 4 Units
King Somborne 21 Units
Fleet South Warnborough 8 Units
Overton
Braishfield 9 Units
Winchester West Meon 10 Units
Awbridge 10 Units Twyford 15 Units Breamore 5 Units
Compton 4 Units
Romsey
Fordingbridge
Petersfield
Eastleigh & Chandler's Ford
Swanmore (2 schemes) 14 & 3 Units Clanfield 10 Units
Southampton
Horndean
New Forest
Denmead 11 Units
Wickham 20 Units
Lyndhurst
Havant
Fareham
Ringwood Fawley Boldre 9 Units
Lymington New Milton
Gosport
0
5
10
Portsmouth
Kilometres 20
Š Crown Copyright and database rights 2012. All rights reserved. HCC 100019180.
HARAH Schemes 2013
Inside this issue... page 2 G
Thrilled couple return to Twyford
HARAH schemes with funding
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HARAH schemes on site
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HARAH schemes complete
page 3 - 5
New Forest National Park
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South Downs National Park
Urban Areas
Hart Hook
Upton Grey 10 Units
Whitchurch
Andover
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Hampshire District Boundaries
Basingstoke and Deane Basingstoke
New projects completed in the past 12 months
page 7 G
Being a good neighbour getting the design and build right
page 8 G
Contacts
page 6 G
Rural Housing Enabler news
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Thrilled couple return to Twyford ‘We are very thrilled and excited to be back where we belong. I am 67 and my husband is 68 and this has meant we can end our days in the place we love best in the world’. Anne Blake was born in Twyford and is the 5th youngest of 6 children. She grew up in the village, went to the village school and worked in the village laundry and residential home. Peter worked as a local taxi driver. Anne met her husband Peter 50 years ago when she was swimming at Twyford locks. They married in the village in 1966. The couple rented a council property while saving up to buy their own house. They eventually bought a house in Twyford and lived there for 31 years bringing up their two children alongside family and friends. ‘Everyone knew each other, it was a real community – we had 8 shops and 4 pubs’ says Peter.
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The couple unfortunately hit financial problems and had to move to Romsey. They returned to Twyford to live in accommodation tied to Anne’s job managing nursing homes. After 8 years, at Anne’s retirement, the couple were unable to remain living in their tied house. Properties were too expensive in Twyford and they had no choice but to move out of their village once again.
What did other residents say?
When the new HARAH properties at Hewlett Close were completed the couple were absolutely delighted to be offered a property.
‘My family have lived in the village since 1974. My parents still live here and it is important for me to live close to them as they help me with childcare so that I can work.’
‘I was so excited I couldn’t believe it, I was round here the next day to see which one it was’ says Anne. Anne still helps out at a retirement home on a voluntary basis and is on the committee, helping with functions and trips. She has spent her life in the village and has only been out of the village for a total of four years. Her roots go back a long way. Her father went to the village school 100 years ago. Her mother met her father in Twyford prep school. Her grandfather worked on the viaduct. Peter who is disabled is able to go to the local shop for the newspaper in his motorised scooter. Anne and Peter visit her sister and brother in the village regularly and provide mutual support to each other.
‘It’s just nice to be back home!’ ‘Our home is attractive and we are proud to live in it’ Many residents have family ties that go back generations. ‘Our family have been connected for three generations.’
‘I am able to help my parents and see them everyday as they are a two minute walk away.’ Most are involved with village life ‘I attend parish meetings in the parish hall. I drink in the local pubs. I organise events for the play group. My family attend 90% of the local events.’ ‘I work in the village, help out at the local football club, help out at beavers and any other events.’
A number of projects were completed in the past 12 months Twyford celebration marks Rural Housing Week In September 2012, the Right Worshipful the Mayor and Mayoress of Winchester, Councillor Frank Pearson and Mrs Anne Pearson JP joined members of HARAH and developer Hazeley Developments to welcome fifteen families to their newly built homes in Twyford (Winchester) and celebrate completion of the development. The guests spoke with residents and those involved in the development before planting a tree to mark the occasion. The event was part of the National Housing Federation’s Rural Housing
Week which seeks to demonstrate the important role affordable housing plays in maintaining small rural communities. The Mayor said: “I’m delighted to be here today and on behalf of residents I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in
making it possible to build these homes, which certainly look warm, cosy and comfortable.” He applauded the very effective partnership including HARAH, Hyde, the developer and the local landowner, who provided the land at a discounted price helping to make these homes affordable. The Mayor went on to say “Affordable housing is very important to communities like Twyford and it is developments like this one at Hewlett Close that help to raise the profile of affordable rural housing. We need to build more of these much needed homes.” Next stop: Breamore Halt, Breamore, November 2012 The five homes at Breamore Halt have been built on the platform of an old Victorian station (which closed in the 1960’s) and are situated
Breamore Halt
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alongside the old track bed which is now a designated footpath through this very attractive area of the New Forest. The homes are the first to have been built as part of the Project 500, a Hampshire Senate strategy to assist delivery of rural housing on County Council and other publicly owned land. Representatives from HARAH and a number of local Parish Councils joined residents as they celebrated moving into their brand new homes. All 5 families were nominated for a home because they have a strong local connection to Breamore. These families are now able to live close to family, friends and their place of work. A commemorative plaque made from slate salvaged during the building of Breamore Halt - was also unveiled at the event, by Cllr Jill Cleary and Cllr Edward Heron (above).
Commemorative Plaque at Breamore Halt Leader of Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Senate Chairman, Councillor Ken Thornber, said: “Improving the lives of Hampshire residents is the main aim of the Senate and the delivery of these brand new affordable homes in Breamore is an excellent example of how we are working together to achieve
this with our partners across the county.” Chris Buchan-Hepburn, Head of New business and HARAH lead at Hyde said: “I am very pleased with the development; it has kept the spirit of the station alive and helped local families to live in the village they think of as home. Peter Turner, chair of the Parish Council, has worked very hard to help this project happen and we are immensely grateful for his dedication and hard work.” The following week, 10 new homes were completed in West Meon (Winchester) These carefully designed homes were the result of many years of work by West Meon Parish Council and HARAH.
West Meon
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Bentley The Parish Council had identified that there were a significant number of local people who wanted to stay in the village, close to family and work but could not afford accommodation currently available in the parish on the open market. They asked HARAH to work with them to meet this need.
Christmas came early for nine households in Bentley, December 2012
The resulting homes provided by HARAH’s development partner, the Hyde Group, through local building contractors, Drew Smith have been designed with great attention to detail, to reflect their rural setting in the South Downs National Park.
Cllr Ken Carter, District Councillor for Bentley, explained:
The Parish Council held an event on 8 December to celebrate the completion of the homes and to welcome the residents, all of whom have a strong local connection to West Meon. Most of these residents have a local connection that goes back more than 10 years.
Through close working between Bentley Parish Council and HARAH, a rural scheme of 9 affordable homes has been built for people in housing need with a local connection to Bentley (East Hampshire).
“Bentley, like many East Hampshire villages, has an urgent need for affordable housing. Now, thanks to some hard work, it is due to receive some - and in time for Christmas. The Parish Council, landowner, East Hants District Council and the residents of Bentley have shown that teamwork can produce results when given the opportunity to work towards a common goal. The houses are surprisingly close to the centre of this
charming village. With high prices making it virtually impossible for children, when grown up, to continue living in the same village as their parents I feel sure that the residents of Bentley will welcome this opportunity with open arms. This success in Bentley proves that with sympathetic design and choice of site along with co-operation it is possible to fit affordable housing into an established village environment.”
New information pack for Parish Councils. HARAH officers are currently putting together a new pack of information for Parish Councils and rural communities. More on this in the near future.
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Hampshire Rural Housing Enablers celebrate their 10th Birthday The Hampshire Rural Housing Enabler’s (RHE) celebrated their ‘10th birthday’ at Community Action Hampshire’s (CAH) Annual General Meeting on the 15th November 2012. A cake, representing one of the many rural homes developed as a result of the Rural Housing Enablers’ work was cut by Jean Johnson, Chair of the CAH Board of Trustees and Cllr Sandra Hawke, Chair of the HARAH Members’ Board. The RHE project began in 2002, to help address a now widely acknowledged problem: that house price inflation has pushed open market housing beyond the reach of those on lower rural incomes with the result that many younger and less affluent people were forced to leave their communities to find cheaper, more affordable housing elsewhere. Providing affordable housing to local people helps create mixed communities, breathes fresh life into rural communities and helps ensure that local people can stay in their villages whatever their age or circumstance. The role of the Rural Housing Enablers is to encourage
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Parish Councils and local communities to identify housing need and engage with the process of developing affordable housing schemes in the parish to meet the need. They support and assist the Parish Council and local community throughout the development process. Community Action Hampshire which hosts the Rural Housing Enablers was one of the founding members of the HARAH partnership, and the RHEs play a key role in it. The project has helped to enable more than 395 rural affordable homes to be built in 55 rural villages across Hampshire. A further 121 homes are funded and will be built over the next 2 years. In all, this has helped more than 1000 local people to stay or return to their communities. Mags Wylie, Senior Rural Housing Enabler said “It’s great to know that this project has helped to leave a lasting legacy in so many peoples’ lives. We and all our HARAH partners look forward to working together to help create more homes for local people over the next few years.”
New Rural Housing Enabler Catherine Kirkham has been appointed as the new Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) and will be based at Community Action Hampshire’s offices in Winchester. Catherine has a Masters in Town and Regional Planning from The University of Liverpool and has previously worked as the RHE for the counties of Flintshire and Wrexham in North East Wales. Catherine will be able to bring her previous experience and planning knowledge to the role. Catherine says: “Rural Hampshire is a desirable place to live; property prices are so high that local people are unable to afford to stay in their village. There is a desperate need for smaller, more affordable properties for local people on modest incomes. Communities need a mix of accommodation types for different ages and income groups. When people move elsewhere the result can be the closure of village schools, shops, pubs, bus routes, post offices and local businesses. Local people contribute to the vitality of rural areas and it is important that we provide affordable housing so that they are able to stay in their local community where they were brought up.”
Being a good Neighbour – getting the design and build right Drew Smith – considerate constructor Most of the homes provided through the HARAH partnership are developed by the Hyde Group and built by local building contractors, Drew Smith. The ‘contractor partnering’ enables Hyde and Drew Smith to continually refine the development process and the design of the homes. Hyde and Drew Smith have an enviable record of effective working with the rural communities in which the homes are built. Hyde works closely with the Parish Council in the design of the scheme, the choice of materials, and holds public events to consult with the local community.
Binsted on site Drew Smith are involved with the scheme at early stages to ensure the building work
proceeds smoothly and efficiently with minimum disruption to those around the site. Drew Smith is part of the Considerate Constructor scheme and is regularly monitored by them. Each site is assessed in areas such as consideration and respectfulness to neighbours and the wider community; the environment and cleanliness of the site; and safety and responsibility towards workers and visitors. Drew Smith consistently scores very well in the assessments which reflects their understanding and respect for the communities in which they work as well as their effective management of the site.
Rural Design Guide The HARAH Rura De sig n Gu l id e partnership is re-affirming its commitment to good design in the affordable homes it provides with the publication of the HARAH Rural Design Guide, due out shortly and to be available on the HARAH website www.harah.org.uk HARAH Hampshire
Alliance for
Rural Affordable
Housing
Rural homes for rural people
Combining Quality Plac Policy and es Principl es September 2012
The Guide, which is based on the newly published Building for Life 12, has been written to encourage good design for rural housing. Rural communities are clear about the quality of the homes they
wish to see built in their village. Through the application of the new guide, HARAH supports rural communities by encouraging the highest standard of design to come forward, which is suited to the individual setting. It is written to assist developers, registered providers, architects, local authority planning, highways and housing development officers as well as parish councils and rural communities. The Guide was written by a working group of officers drawn from across HARAH with planning, highways, landscape, design and housing development expertise. Its value has been recognised by the Homes and Communities Agency. Matt Dodd, Rural and Communities Manager at the Homes and Communities Agency said: ‘The Homes and Communities Agency recognises this guide as demonstrating what can be achieved in delivering much needed quality affordable housing in our rural communities. Design is a key part of the development process and of getting rural communities to support new housing in their area. This guide provides examples and techniques that can be replicated across the country and we welcome its publication.’
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Contacts The HARAH website www.harah.org.uk has a full list of contacts and a downloadable copy of this newsletter. If you would like a hard copy of this newsletter or have any questions or comments, please send them to: Debbie Rhodes
If you own land on the edge of a village which may be suitable for affordable housing for local people, please contact:
HARAH Strategic Housing Officer c/o Winchester City Council City Offices Colebrook Street Winchester S023 9LJ
Head of New Business The Hyde Group 63 St Mary Street St Mary’s Southampton SO14 1NU
Email: drhodes@winchester.gov.uk
Email: chris.buchan-hepburn@hyde-housing.co.uk
Chris Buchan-Hepburn
02380 836 852 The Hampshire Rural Housing Enablers are the first point of contact for parishes who would like to know more about rural affordable housing or who would like to progress some homes. Their contact details are: mags.wylie@actionhants.org.uk Mags Wylie, 01962 857 361, Catherine Kirkham 01962 857 362, catherine.kirkham@actionhants.org.uk Address: Community Action Hampshire, Beaconsfield House, Andover Road, Winchester, Hants, SO22 6AT
Hewlett Close, Twyford
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