A new development, which will enable local people to continue living in their close-knit community, is getting underway in Walgrave.
The start on site event took place at the affordable housing site during Community Impact Week, which gives housing associations across the country an opportunity to celebrate how they transform people’s lives and the communities in which they live.
Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association (NRHA), in partnership with local developer, Whiterock Homes, is set to make a big difference to local people by building 10 new homes in Walgrave, specifically for people with a local connection to the village.
Neil Gilliver (pictured above), Development Officer at NRHA, was joined by Lesley Ford-Kalym (pictured above, right), Director at Whiterock Homes and Site Co-ordinator, Kirsty French (pictured above, left), to mark the beginning of this new project.
In 2014, the partnership developed 11 affordable homes at Poachers Close with widespread community support but, three years on, there is still a real need for local homes in the village that local people can afford.
The new scheme is being built on land adjacent to Poachers Close and comprises 10 homes — four for affordable rent including one bungalow, two shared ownership homes and four local market homes. These comprise three two-bedroom detached bungalows and one four-bedroom detached house, all with garages.
All the homes, including those for local market sale, will be subject to a S106 agreement. This gives priority to local people with family or work ties to the Walgrave Ward, in a bid to stop locals being forced to move away due to rising house prices.
All the homes, including those for local market sale, will only be available to people with family or work ties to Walgrave in a bid to stop locals being forced to move away due to rising house prices.
This marks the first cross-subsidy scheme in Daventry in which the development surpluses generated from the homes for local market sale will be used to subsidise the affordable properties.
Neil Gilliver, Development Officer at Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association commented: “We are delighted to be working with Whiterock Homes once again to meet the need for more affordable housing in Walgrave.
“Our first development saw more than 75 people coming to view the finished homes and we hope that this new scheme will generate even more support from the local community.”
Leicestershire-based, family-owned company, Whiterock Homes, has many years’ experience in developing small-scale well-designed affordable housing in keeping with the setting of Northamptonshire’s villages.
Director, Lesley Ford-Kalym, added: “Whiterock Homes is excited to be returning to the village of Walgrave to continue the success of Phase one, where both affordable and local market homes have been identified as much needed and wanted by local people.”
