HRH The Princess Royal opens a pioneering affordable rural housing scheme in Kent. Carpenter's Yard in Shepherdswell shows how community action can address the critical under-provision of affordable rural housing.
The scheme, delivered through Kent's first Community Land Trust (CLT), marks a significant milestone in addressing rural housing needs in a county where average house prices are now 10 times average incomes.
Carpenter's Yard, comprising 13 new homes and 10 affordable properties, is the result of a unique partnership between English Rural, Shepherdswell with Coldred Community Land Trust, Dover District Council and the Church Commissioners for England, who provided the land. The development includes a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments and two- and three-bedroom houses designed to meet local housing needs.
Three open-market bungalows have also been built to generate income that has been used to help fund the affordable homes and provide options for older residents looking to downsize. The government's affordable housing agency Homes England has also provided some grant funding, with the remaining finance secured and invested by English Rural.
Martin Collett, Chief Executive of English Rural, said: "We are delighted with the new homes in Shepherdswell and proud that our Patron, HRH The Princess Royal will officially open them. This innovative scheme demonstrates the power community action can have in securing homes that provide local people with somewhere warm, safe and affordable to live. By partnering with the Shepherdswell and Coldred CLT, Dover District Council and the Church Commissioners, we've created a sustainable solution that will benefit this rural community for generations to come."
Alan Smith, First Church Estates Commissioner, said: “Rural communities embody what is excellent and precious about England. Yet they face a critical shortage of safe, secure, and affordable housing, so we are privileged to know Carpenter's Yard will be opened by HRH The Princess Royal. The development reflects a shared vision of the Church Commissioners and our partners, the community-run Shepherdswell and Coldred CLT, English Rural and Dover County Council, and we hope it serves as a blueprint for similar schemes across the country.”
Chair of Shepherdswell Parish Council, Cllr Mark Watson, added: "Carpenter's Yard is a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together. This development ensures that local people and key workers can continue to live and work in the village they call home. It's a proud day for Shepherdswell and a model for rural communities across the country."
Image provided by Monfort.
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