The locally led CLTs will receive £1.3 million of funding from the HCA to support the development of the housing, which is planned to be made available for local people who have connections to the villages, but are priced out of the local housing market.
The schemes will be located in the villages of Queens Camel and Norton sub Hamdon in south Somerset and have been funded from the HCA's Affordable Housing Programme, which has been used to fund community-led housing projects.
“These projects are amongst a number of community-led housing projects supported by the HCA’s teams in the South and South West in recent years, and each of them has demonstrated real vision and ambition to make a positive difference to their local area," said Colin Molton, HCA executive director for the south and south west. "These two projects will make a huge long-term impact to the communities in which they are based, by providing new homes that will remain in control of local people."
The partnership between Queens Camel CLT and Hastoe Housing Association will receive £870,000 of funding to deliver 16 new homes for rent and four for sale on a site off West Camel Road. Queen Camel CLT will own the freehold of the land, with Hastoe managing the housing as part of a long-term lease.
The HCA will invest the remaining £420,000 in Norton sub Hamdon CLT, which will be used to deliver 10 affordable homes in partnership with Yarlington Housing Group on a site in Minchington Close.
"There’s a lot of work still to do but we will be aiming to put together a planning application for the homes by the end of the year and we will continue to consult with the community on this in the months ahead.” chairman of Queen Camel CLT and parish Councillor Rosemary Heath-Coleman.
Both CLTs have consulted with the local community on the plans, which received strong support. It is hoped that the homes will be completed during 2014.
