Councillors visit rural homes in Wiltshire
Prior to Rural Housing Week representatives from a leading affordable housing provider met with members of Holt parish Council to discuss the importance of such homes across Wiltshire.
Councillor Steve Siddall, chair of the Parish Council, visited the Stonewater – affordable housing provider – site at Station Road in Holt alongside several other council representatives, who were able to witness the range of new homes being built next to an existing housing development.
The new development is littered with ten new one bedroom-masionettes, two-bed bungalows and two- and three-bed homes, which will all be available for social rent for residents, are due to be completed this summer, transforming the derelict old Star Ground.
These properties make up the second phase of affordable properties being built in Holt, the first providing 12 homes in 2012. Both have utilised a rural exeception site, which allows land to be provided below market value for residential development, following Stonewater and the Parish Council identifying the long-term need for rural homes to ensure more young people do not move out of the area.
It seems local morale is very important in this particular area. The homes are being built by local construction firm Winsely White – a rural housing specialist who has previously worked with Stonewater on various other rural schemes. What’s more, they are being completed to Passivhaus standard, meaning they will be energy efficient and have a low ecological footprint.
In addition, solar panels will be fitted, alongside the Wondrwall heating and water system, which uses smart technology to monitor and understand customer energy use to minimise energy usage and reduce bills.
Matthew Crucefix, director of development at Stonewater, said: ‘It was fantastic to welcome representatives from Holt Parish Council to our Star Ground scheme and review the progress taking place. Once complete, the site will provide much needed housing options for local people, which is never more important than in a rural village like Holt.
‘Our vision is for everyone to have the opportunity of a place that they can call home and that shouldn’t be restricted to customers living in larger towns and cities. Affordable rural housing plays a vital part in enabling people to build their lives in smaller communities, which can often be more difficult to remain within or afford, and in turn plays an important part in keeping these rural areas thriving. We look forward to welcoming new customers to these homes.’
Cllr Steve Siddal added: ‘It was wonderful to see these brilliant houses nearing completion. We found this exception site many years ago and it is now blessed with 22 affordable homes for rent for people connected to this village. Stonewater and Winsley White have done an amazing job producing homes of the highest quality proofed for the future with green technology.’
Images: Stonewater
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