Work has begun to deliver 31 new affordable homes to the village of Eastington in Stroud. A partnership between Gloucestershire-based housing association Two Rivers Housing and the Eastington Community Land Trust (ECLT), will see a mix of flats, bungalows and two- and three-bed homes built on the Homeground site on the edge of the village.
The ECLT was set up by residents of the rural village in 2016. Its purpose is to enable much needed affordable homes to be developed in the area while maintaining the character and green spaces in and around the village.
Working with Two Rivers Housing, the group secured planning from Stroud District Council in April last year. Since then, they have been working together to appoint contractors, obtain funding to support the development, and prepare the site for building.
Of the 31 homes, 21 will be available for social rent and 10 will be available for Shared Ownership helping local families stay and put down roots in the area. All the homes will be built to the highest energy performance certificate ratings (EPC A), ensuring that they are not only affordable to rent but also warm and affordable to heat for the families living in them.
In the last few weeks, the site has started to take shape as the first timber frames have appeared near the entrance of the new development. Development partners GP Thomas recently gave the ECLT, Two Rivers Housing and supporting partners a site tour and a progress update.
Speaking at the site, Ted Pearce Chair of the Two Rivers Housing Board said: “Sites like this remind us all of what it is to be a community-based housing association. We’ve been able to work closely with the ECLT to really understand the local housing need and create a neighbourhood that will help keep local families in the village while maintaining that sense of local community — protecting its future for generations to come.”
Tom Morrison, Chair of the ECLT thanked everyone involved in the project and paid tribute to trustees of the ECLT who have given up their time to get the project off the ground. Tom said: “The trustees of the ECLT are all volunteers who dedicate their time to help make sure we can respond to local housing need while safeguarding Eastington’s distinctive rural appeal and identity. Without their efforts none of this would be possible and I can’t thank them enough for their hard work over the last 10 years.”
“This is the second development that the ECLT have built in the area. In 2020, they built 23 homes at the Claypits site and approached Two Rivers Housing to support them in delivering the Homeground site in 2019.”
Speaking about the partnership, Tom added: “Two Rivers Housing understand what is important to us as a Community Land Trust and have been patient and supportive throughout the process. Their collaborative approach and willingness to work constructively with us to get the planning and funding applications over the line have made them the perfect partner for this project.”
The development was backed by both Eastington Parish Council and Stroud District Council and was partially funded with a grant from Homes England, who also took part in the site tour. The first of the new homes will be available for families in 2026. Those that are available to rent will be offered through the Homeseekers website and Shared Ownership properties will be advertised through Rightmove, On the Market, and on the Twocan Estate Agent’s website.
Header image: Members of the Two Rivers Housing team met with the ECLT, Homes England, Stroud District Council and development partners GP Thomas to tour the site
