Residents in North Cerney are celebrating Christmas early with the news that Cotswold District Council has approved a scheme which will see 12 new affordable homes built in the village.
The scheme, submitted for approval by Cirencester Housing, will benefit from a grant of over £480,000 from CDC, and will provide a significant boost to the local community when it delivers ten rental homes and two shared ownership homes providing much needed accommodation for local families.
Construction is expected to begin next year and the houses should be completed by Spring 2019.
This exciting news comes on the back of widespread local support for the new scheme, and Cllr Stephen Hirst, the CDC Cabinet Member for Housing issues, is delighted that it has reached this important milestone:
“The Council is always seeking opportunities to work with housing providers so that we can deliver more homes for local people in rural communities. In this instance, the local Parish Councils in North Cerney and Bagendon approached the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council to formally establish housing need, and then they joined forces with CDC and Cirencester Housing to move the whole process along. My predecessor Cllr Sue Jepson played a big part in making things happen at our end, and it is extremely heartening to see arrangements coming to fruition under my watch.”
Local Ward Member Cllr Jenny Forde, looks forward to a bright future in North Cerney:
“Affordable housing will maintain a balanced community, breathe fresh life into North Cerney and should help ensure that local people can stay living in the village they call home.
“It’s in everyone’s interest to prevent rural parts of the Cotswolds becoming the preserve of the wealthy and isolated elderly. The people in North Cerney recognise this, and have supported this development from the start without a single objection.”
Cirencester Housing Chief Executive, Maureen Margrie, shares their enthusiasm:
“We were thrilled by the level of support for the scheme from villagers and the generous contribution that we secured from CDC. Due to excellent cooperation, local community support and CDC’s professional processing of the application, these homes will be realised in about half the time of similar rural exception schemes. It is my hope that other villages will be interested in working together to bring affordable homes to rural communities, helping sustain rural economies, populations and vital community services”
About Cirencester Housing
Cirencester Housing is a small local provider of high quality social and affordable housing in Cirencester and the surrounding area. We have 153 properties in total; 139 properties in Cirencester(opens in a new window), three in Southrop,(opens in a new window) one in Fairford and 11 properties in Bibury our newest development. For further information see www.cirencesterhs.org.uk