Community celebrates completion of affordable homes in historic market town

A development of affordable housing has been completed in a Cotswold market town, where property prices far exceed the national average.

Angela's Meadow, comprising 26 homes built on the site of a disused barn, has enabled those with a work or family connection to Shipston-on-Stour to settle in the town, despite being priced out of the open market.

Completion of the development, named after Shipston resident Angela Noyce, an active member of the community who passed away last year, was marked by an event on Saturday 25th September for residents of the new homes. 

There was an acoustic guitarist, five large lawn games, including Connect Four, and a hog roast.  A commemorative stone was unveiled by Angela's husband and former town mayor Alan and a ribbon was cut by current mayor Simon Welch to open the children's play area.

Derrick Dyas, chairman of Warwickshire Rural Housing Association (WRHA), which owns and manages the homes and organised the event, said: "I was delighted that the sun shone down on our gathering as it allowed plenty of opportunity for both the formal speeches to take place as well as meeting the children, residents and local people who were obviously enjoying their new community and the facilities it offered - especially the play area.

"I was particularly pleased that many of the concerns previously expressed about the development had been overcome with a true partnership spirit and a realisation that what had been achieved was beneficial for the people of Shipston.

"I hope a really dynamic relationship will develop between the new residents of Angela's Meadow and the Girl Guides who occupy the neighbouring camp site. I am sure Angela Noyce would have wanted that as the two communities have much to offer each other."

The average house price in the Cotswolds is £344,293, compared to the UK average of £224,064 (source BBC News online*).  A housing needs' survey carried out by WRHA, working with Shipston Town Council, revealed a clear call for houses and bungalows for affordable rent.

Funding contributions toward the cost of the £3.7million development were received from sources including the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the national housing and regeneration agency for England, (£1.7m), and Stratford-on-Avon District Council (£500,000).

Baggi Matu, east area team investment and regeneration manager for the HCA West Midlands said: "With the gap between average earning and house prices increasing within rural communities, it is important that we support high quality, affordable housing schemes such as this to assist those who are being priced out of the villages in which they grew up."

Victoria and Simon Clifton were among those to make the most of the opportunity and snap up one of the new homes.  They describe their move into a two bedroom house as "100 per cent" right for their family.

The couple previously lived in a maisonette in Shipston, historically a working wool town known as Sheep-wash-Town.   While their last home had a garden, it wasn't enclosed making it difficult to keep an eye on their lively two-year-old son, Riley.

Mrs Clifton said: "We wanted to stay in Shipston because we really like it here but it's quite expensive to buy which is why we considered Warwickshire Rural Housing Association.  It was 100 per cent the right thing for us to do because the new house is great and it's worked out so well for our family."

Jephson Homes Housing Association developed the homes in London Road, on behalf of WRHA, a specialist provider of rural housing, which supports the sustainability of rural communities through its policy that only people with an existing tie to an area can take a tenancy. 

The 24 houses and two bungalows meet the Joseph Rowntree lifetime homes standard, including the potential to house a lift and incorporate level wheelchair access, and have systems that harvest rainwater to service toilet cisterns and washing machines and that redirect internal heat to radiators and the hot water system.

1. Warwickshire Rural Housing Association manages more than 450 homes in 29 villages and small towns across the county. The majority are let at affordable rents, while a small number have been made available through shared ownership schemes. The association works closely with local authorities, parish and town councils to address the needs of rural communities by developing sustainable housing and providing a professional management service for residents. For further information visit www.warwickshirerha.org.uk

2. The Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the largest in England and Wales, and takes in parts of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Somerset.

3. * Average house price data taken from BBC News online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/uk_house_prices/html/23uc.stm

4. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England. Its vision is to create opportunity for people to live in homes they can afford in places they want to live, by enabling local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas. For more information visit the HCA newsroom at homesandcommunities.co.uk/newsevent

For further information about the news release, please contact Lyndsey Hunt, of Word Association, on 01455 614333 or lyndsey@wordassociation.co.uk