WODC funding for affordable homes development
A scheme to provide more much needed affordable homes for Charlbury is now set to go ahead following grant support of £200,000 from West Oxfordshire District Council.
The grant will support a development of fifteen affordable homes in Little Lees Charlbury. This demand for Charlbury was identified by a local housing needs survey.
Planning permission was granted on the Little Lees site in line with West Oxfordshire District Council's rural exception policy. This policy allows for small scale affordable housing to be provided for local people on sites that would not otherwise gain planning permission.
Cllr Verena Hunt, Cabinet Member for Housing said, "We are extremely pleased to be enabling more affordable housing for our district. With house prices and rentals being so high, providing affordable housing is crucial to help individuals and families stay in the area. I am sure this scheme will be welcomed by many residents of Charlbury, especially as under the rural housing exception policy, re-housing priority will be given to people who are living in the town or have a connection with it."
The grant of £200,000 will be made to Soha Housing Association, who will finance the remainder of the capital cost of construction with the total scheme costs amounting to around £2.2m.
The new homes are expected to be completed during 2012/13 and they would make a significant contribution to delivery of the Council's target for affordable homes.
The new development will comprise:
- Three 2-bed houses,
- Three 3-bed houses,
- One 4- bed house,
- Four 2-bed flats to rent
- Two 2- bed houses
- Two 2-bed flats for shared ownership.
(From a WODC press release)
Richard Fairhurst · Sun 26 Feb 2012, 21:05 · Link