MP Harriett Baldwin joined social housing provider Stonewater for a tour of a small development of 10 affordable village homes in Glendower Way, Great Witley where she met residents.
Stonewater’s recently built two- and three-bedroom homes for affordable rent and shared ownership have helped local people remain in the community — close to their families and places of work.
The affordable village homes, which were delivered in partnership with Malvern Hills District Council, come at a time when average house prices in the area are around 10 times average local earnings and more than a third of annual income is spent on rent.
Harriett Baldwin had the opportunity to meet with Stonewater residents and see how housing associations are helping to revitalise rural communities by providing the right mix of high-quality, low-cost housing in key locations for local people who support village shops, businesses, services and schools in the area.
Catherine Evans, Stonewater Regional Director West, commented: “Glendower Way is a great example of a partnership approach to delivering affordable rural housing for local people, including shared ownership, which is helping many achieve their dream of owning a home.
“Small village developments like this highlight the important role Stonewater and other housing associations are playing in stimulating growth, diversity and prosperity in rural communities by providing the right type of good-quality accommodation where it’s most needed. We were delighted that Harriett was able to meet some of our residents and hear first-hand how these homes have helped them.”
Stonewater’s Glendower Way affordable homes, which are part of a wider development delivered by Bloor Homes, provide a mix of eight two- and three-bedroom bungalows, terraced and semi-detached houses for social rent. The scheme also includes two, three-bedroom semi-detached houses for affordable shared ownership, a part rent, part buy scheme, where the buyer purchases a share of their new home and pays a reduced rent on the balance. Over time, as their incomes rise, purchasers can buy a bigger share and eventually own the property outright.
Harriett Baldwin MP added: “It was great to chat to people living in the new Stonewater development in Great Witley and they are clearly very happy both with the setting and the quality of the homes. The village is a stunning location for people setting up home and it is great to see section 106 money from developers going towards local projects like this.”
Stonewater manages over 450 homes for affordable rent and shared ownership across West Worcestershire.
Pictured above, from left to right, are: Louise Broughton, Stonewater Tenancy Service Officer; Harriett Baldwin MP; Catherine Evans, Stonewater Regional Director West and Matthew Crucefix, Stonewater Assistant Director Development West.
