Hampshire village celebrates first affordable homes in a decade

Published by Jon Land for Sentinel Housing Association Ltd in Housing and also in Communities

NORTH HAMPSHIRES biggest landlord has stepped in to deliver the first affordable homes in a decade for one of the most expensive villages in the Newbury area.

Nine local families, couples and individuals moved in earlier this year into the new apartments and houses in Kingsclere built by Sentinel Housing Association.

The £758,000 project includes six 2 bedroom apartments for rent, built on wasteland in Strokins Road, plus three 2-bedroom houses for shared ownership in nearby Ash Grove.

The development was completed via a collaboration between Kingsclere Parish Council, Sentinel and Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, along with contractor PMC Construction and project consultant Alan Gregory Associates, and assisted with funding by the Housing Corporation

Sentinel Senior Project Manager Paul Richards said: Its been a delight to work with all our partners on this project in Kingsclere, particularly the Borough and Parish Councils.

We look will continue to work hard to identify further sites where we can continue to provide high quality affordable village homes to ensure that Kingsclere remains inclusive.

All the homes have been let or sold to residents with strong local connections, but there are still 190 people on the waiting list for affordable homes in Kingsclere, where the average two bedroom home costs £232,000 on the open market (source: mouseprice.com)

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Cabinet member for Housing and Health Cllr Cathy Osselton said: I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to house nine families in Kingsclere, enabling them to remain within the community.

Housing Corporation Director for the South East, Fiona Cruickshank, added: I am delighted that Housing Corporation funding of £285,000 is helping to provide six much needed 2-bed apartments for rent. The affordability of housing in rural areas is a huge problem and we hope this development will help to contribute to meeting the housing needs of local people in Kingsclere.