FOUR affordable rural homes for local people were officially opened by Waverley mayor Maurice Byham at Queens Mead, Chiddingfold. The four homes are the result of a partnership between English Rural Housing Association, Waverley Borough Council and Chiddingfold Parish Council. The project has been funded by the Housing Corporation as part of its National Affordable Housing Programme. The new houses, officially opened on April 24, are now all complete and three are now occupied. One of the homes has been sold on a shared ownership basis and the other three made available at a low cost rent. English Rural, which owns and manages the homes, says the development ensures those unable to afford market prices can still live in the village. The development demonstrates what can be achieved through a strategic partnership between a local authority and housing association with financial backing from government. It says the popularity and accessibility of the village has led to an increasing demand for homes and pushed property prices beyond the means of many local people. It aims to ensure rural communities continue to house a mixture of income earners and age groups. The development is the second owned and managed by the housing association in the village, the first was four homes at Coopers Cottages. There are also plans for more affordable homes at Ridgley Road, Chiddingfold. A 'Nominations Agreement' with the borough council, ensures anyone moving into the homes has a connection to the village. In line with the Surrey Structure Plan, 10 per cent of energy used by the new homes is from a renewable source. This has been achieved by using photovoltaic tiles to minimise reliance on electricity. A number of other energy saving devices have also been included in the design and manufacture, with the development achieving an eco-homes rating of "very good". An off-site manufacturing technique called 'Volumetric Construction' means the main structural components were built away from the site and then transported and fixed into place. The idea is to improve efficiency and minimise both disruption to the local area and site delays. Adrian Maunders, chief executive of English Rural, said: "Surrey villages have been particularly badly affected by the issue of affordable rural housing. Given the accessibility of the county to prosperous urban areas, and the picturesque nature of many of its rural parishes, open market property values are now well beyond the means of many local households. "At English Rural we believe that a sustainable village is one that benefits from a mixture of income earners and age groups. Providing small developments for local people – like the new homes at Queens Mead – is a good way of achieving this. We encourage any parish councils who have not yet considered the possibility of an affordable housing development to follow Chiddingfold's example." Christine Tebbot, Chiddingfold Parish Council chairman, said: "The parish council is acutely aware that Chiddingfold is an expensive village and lacks enough affordable accommodation for local people especially young families. As a result those on lower or even middle incomes from the village have to move away, leaving friends and family networks behind. "The parish council supports the principal that a supply of good affordable housing contributes to creating a balanced and viable rural community that sustains local services and facilities from which the whole community benefits. "We are delighted four local families will benefit from these wonderful new homes."
