A leading housing provider has completed the purchase of land for a new £13m development in rural Clehonger, close to Hereford. Perfectly aligned to this year’s theme for Rural Housing Week, ‘committed to rural communities’, Stonewater plans to develop 90 much-needed affordable homes in the Herefordshire village.
Supported by £3.7m Homes England funding, the scheme will also feature a large public open space and the renewal of an existing orchard for residents to enjoy. In addition to this, Stonewater will be providing space for shrub planting, a wildflower meadow and a natural play area.
The development will comprise of 58 new homes — a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom houses — for affordable rent, along with 32 two and three-bedroom houses for shared ownership. Providing much-needed affordable new homes is vital for the survival of rural communities and services.
Matt Crucefix, Director of Development (South and West) at Stonewater, said: “In Rural Housing Week we’re not only focussing on the pressing need for affordable homes for local people but also highlighting the role that affordable housing plays in sustaining thriving and picturesque villages like Clehonger.
“Our aim is to ensure there’s plenty of green space for the whole community to enjoy, along with attractive open spaces and a rejuvenated orchard, designed to breathe new life into the local area.
“We look forward to working with our chosen construction partner to provide a range of houses not just for rent but also for shared ownership, enabling individuals and families struggling to get on the property ladder to realise their dream of owning their own home.”
Stonewater is currently undertaking a public tender for the build contract. Once the building contractor is appointed, work is due to start on site by early October.
Councillor Ange Tyler, Herefordshire Council Cabinet Member for Housing, Regulatory Services and Community Safety, added: “We are pleased to have been able to give this scheme the go ahead to provide much-needed housing in a rural area.
“This development will provide high quality homes and will also help to tackle the shortage of affordable housing in rural communities where people are currently struggling to rent or buy a place of their own due to the increase in prices. These affordable homes will make it possible for local people and young families to remain in their community and close to their families.
“We are keen to continue to work alongside Stonewater to help deliver the council’s aims of building genuinely affordable homes across Herefordshire.”
This scheme is part of Stonewater’s ambitious housebuilding programme, which is on track to deliver at least 1,500 new homes a year from 2022. Nearly a quarter of the new homes built by Stonewater last year were rural schemes — offering a mix of tenures ranging from low-cost starter homes to large family houses.
The housing provider, which currently manages 33,600 homes across England, is now on the look-out for more plots of land to buy for future development opportunities.
