News

22/07/2010   Funding secured for more homes

HARAH’s housing association partner The Hyde Group has successfully secured funding of nearly £7.3m from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to build more homes in rural Hampshire villages. 

Developments in the villages will range in size from five to 21 high quality homes, many of which will benefit from renewable energy and the Lifetime Homes  design standard, which means ordinary homes can be modified should their occupants require.

Chris Buchan-Hepburn, development manager for HydeMartlet, the part of The Hyde Group working as HARAH’s RSL partner, said: "This will ensure that affordable housing is developed in villages where housing is most needed by local people. Historically many rural people have been forced to leave areas where they have family ties because they simply can't afford the housing and this can lead to the erosion of communities." 

Rural Hampshire has an ageing population and is rapidly becoming an enclave for the rich. Small developments, such as those at Lockerley and Boldre which are currently under construction, help redress this balance.

There are at least 37,000 households on housing waiting lists across Hampshire, in some rural areas house prices average almost 14 times the local income. Local people are increasingly being priced out of the communities they grew up in, and forced to move to unfamiliar areas. These new homes will no doubt provide a vital lifeline for the communities concerned.

Warren Finney, South East regional manager for the National Housing Federation, said: "It's great news that the Hyde Group has secured this funding for much needed affordable housing in Hampshire. This is a prime example of how housing associations can work effectively with local authorities and parish councils to deliver the homes that are badly needed by local people."