Innovative housing project calls for community input
A call is going out to residents of a Shropshire town to be part of an innovative project aimed at creating the area's next development of affordable homes.
South Shropshire Housing Association has secured funding for approximately 38 homes, on land adjacent to Ley Gardens, in Church Stretton.
An important factor in this success of the funding bid was the approach to the project, which will ensure residents and other local groups will be fully involved at the heart of the process and SSHA and Church Stretton Town Council are keen to begin that involvement straight away.
A Community Housing Forum is to be held on November 12, at the Silvester Horne Institute, in Church Stretton, between 6.15pm and 8.15pm, at which a steering group will be formed of representatives from across the community to take the project forward.
The new development is currently referred to as Ashbrook II and planning permission has been granted for the site (which is separate from any wider development considerations for the town), however it is vital that this project meets the needs of the community and fits in with residents' vision for their town.
The plan for the steering group is to include two people from the forum event, together with representatives from the town council, Shropshire Council, Shropshire Housing Group and with input from other local interest groups. There is also an aim to recruit two young people from the community who are keen to have their own influence over the shape and style of the development.
Among the many questions that group will be seeking to answer are: what type of affordable homes does the community want in terms of tenures (social rented, shared ownership, etc.)?; what type of affordable homes does the community want in terms of accommodation?; how best to engage with local people not registered on Shropshire HomePoint?; what style of letting or sales would be helpful to target local people?
Paul Sutton, director for assets and development at Shropshire Housing Group, of which SSHA is a part, said: “This is a rare and exciting opportunity for deep collaboration between everyone with an interest in the future of Church Stretton's housing provision. We want to gather ideas, listen closely to all views and then be able to build homes in a development that we can all be very proud of. We hope that everyone with something to contribute will grasp this chance and be part of what is a really positive project that will be steered by the community in a way Shropshire has not seen before.”
