Local councillors were treated to a sneak preview of Warwickshire Rural Housing Association (WRHA)’s latest community-led development of affordable homes in Great Alne during Rural Housing Week 2019.
John Gordon, Development and Enabling Officer at Stratford-on-Avon District Council; Lynn Bowring, Chair of Great Alne Parish Council and Councillor Hazel Mainwaring; Sarah Brooke-Taylor from Warwickshire Rural Community Council; Claire Linfoot McLean, Managing Director at local developer, Linfoot Country Homes; and Patrick Taylor from Orbit, joined Derrick Dyas, Chairman of WRHA, in a tour of the Salter’s Oak development in Great Alne, which is due to be completed this month.
Rural Housing Week provides an excellent opportunity to shine a spotlight on developments, such as Great Alne, which offer a lifeline to local people in rural towns and villages.
Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, WRHA has proven that affordable housing is vital for the survival of rural communities and services.
With funding from Stratford-on-Avon District Council, seven homes for affordable rent have been developed in Great Alne, with a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses, plus two bungalows, to meet local need. The scheme has been built specifically for local people so they can afford to continue living in the village.
Salter’s Oak is a truly local scheme, developed by Linfoot Country Homes who are based in Great Alne themselves. All the properties have been carefully designed to be in keeping with their rural surroundings, with open landscaped spaces and a wetland area on the scheme, plus many indigenous trees and shrubs.
Chairman of Warwickshire Rural Housing Association, Derrick Dyas commented: “Rural Housing Week offered the perfect opportunity to give our partners a tour of our new development in Great Alne before it’s completely finished.
“The new affordable homes will make a big difference to local people who are being forced out of the village due to rising house prices.
“We’re currently looking for people to join the Board of WRHA to ensure the Association continues to move in the right direction. Anyone who would like to strategically guide the work of WRHA should get in touch.”
Pictured above from left to right is Warwickshire Rural Community Council’s Rural Housing Enabler Sarah Brooke-Taylor; Great Alne Parish Council’s Councillor Hazel Mainwaring; WRHA Development Officer Neil Gilliver; WRHA Chairman Derrick Dyas; WRCC Chief Executive Kim Slater; Great Alne Parish Council Chair Lynn Bowring and Linfoot Country Homes’ Site Manager, Steve Woodington and Managing Director Claire Linfoot McLean.
