Council putting £1.85m into low-cost homes for local people

UP to £1.85 million is being made available by West Somerset Council in its corporate plan this year to help provide low-cost affordable homes for local people to rent and buy.
The council is currently working on five schemes across the district to fulfil the need for affordable homes, including Clanville Grange, in Minehead, where 11 affordable homes will be sold to local people if the Secretary of State approves the council’s discounted purchase scheme.
Outline planning permission has also been granted for 20 to 25 homes off Marshfield Road, in Alcombe.
A development of homes and small workshops to rent or buy on a former field study site owned by the council in Simonsbath is also being worked on.
And an eco-friendly development in Carhampton will deliver affordable homes which are also as near carbon-neutral as possible.
The council is also continuing to support its housing association partners’ provision of additional affordable homes to rent and buy.
Support may take the form of direct subsidy, and also giving backing to bids for Government funding through the Housing Corporation.
In contrast to the last financial year, when there were no supported bids from the Housing Corporation, this year 17 potential bids have been made which could provide more than 140 affordable homes throughout the district.
A report on the subject is being considered by the council’s cabinet on June 12 to update members on progress.
The register for people wanting affordable homes at Clanville Grange has now closed, but local people who want to register for future affordable rented housing should contact the council on 01643 703704.
Anybody who wants to register for future low-cost home ownership initiatives can do so via Home2own by telephoning 01803 217600 or logging on to the website http://www.home2own.org.uk/.

• Our photograph shows Roxanne Sargent (second from right) and her baby Jaydon moving into a Caractacus Homes property in Dulverton last year in a partnership with the council. Photo submitted.

Public sessions to discuss Carhampton eco homes

A PUBLIC meeting is being held in Carhampton Village Hall on January 18 to allow local residents to view plans and have their say on the proposed development of eco-friendly, carbon neutral, affordable homes at Townsend Farm.
There will be an informal session between 3 pm and 5 pm, followed by a formal presentation between 7 pm and 9 pm.
West Somerset Council wants to develop the scheme in partnership with the Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development, a charity set up to promote sustainable construction and design.
A community land trust would be set up to allow land to be taken into the ownership of the local community and managed by a board of local people, including parish councillors, local residents, and tenants.
The trust would have a responsibility to protect community assets, re-invest any proceeds, and ensure the homes remained affordable.
District council housing, health, and welfare portfolio holder, Councillor Mary Crowley, said: “We could build 30 homes, 20 of which will be affordable homes to rent and buy, with the remaining 10 to be sold on the open market to off-set costs.
“If we can take it forward, this will be a groundbreaking project, with homes built to a carbon neutral specification that will be affordable for local people on low wages.
“The aim is to derive 20 per cent of the homes’ energy from micro generation like solar or wind power, or ground source heat pumps.”
Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development director Charles Couzens said: “We are looking forward to working with the local community and the council to create new homes which meet the need for affordable housing and have a vastly reduced global footprint.”
The presentation from the Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development will explain how community land trusts can work for the benefit of the community, as well as the benefits of carbon neutral housing.
Following the presentation, representatives will be available to explain more about the development and to answer questions.
Photo submitted.