Delivered as a result of a close partnership between St Giles in the Wood Parish Council, Torridge District Council, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the Devon Rural Housing Enabler and DCH, the launch, which was held on 25 March 2011, caps around five years of work to deliver new homes in the village. The eight new homes for rent have been supported with investment of more than £500,000 from the HCA, with an additional funding from the District Council.
The new houses have been built to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and have an innovative air source heat pump system providing heating and hot water, which will cut running costs and benefit the residents.
Alan Partridge, Development Manager, Devon and Cornwall Housing, said: “It has taken a lot of time, effort and money to get these homes built but it has been worth it. The handover of these properties is a milestone and I want to stress how important the partnership between the agencies has been. Without the common goal of wanting to provide homes for local people we would not be here now.”
Graham Davey, Chair, Devon Rural Housing Partnership, added: “One of our Rural Housing Enablers carried out the housing need survey with the parish council and helped identify potential sites. This scheme includes the 400th home built through the Devon Rural Housing Programme since 2008. Without schemes like this communities die as the families being housed would have to move away because of the shortage of suitable accommodation. Now these families can remain and help to sustain the community they grew up in.”
Lisa Clayton, HCA Investment and Regeneration Manager said: “Providing housing in villages like St Giles of the Wood, where it is in high demand, is so vital to maintain and develop communities. We strongly supported this scheme and were delighted when Torridge approved the planning application allowing it to go ahead. It is extremely good news to see local families moving into the properties and I am sure that they will be very happy living in their new homes.”
