Archived press release

Date Published: 30/05/07

An open day to celebrate the completion of Tingewick’s new affordable housing development on Field Close will be held on Monday 4 June 2007.  The scheme, which comprises eight new homes, will be officially opened in a ceremony for loca...

An open day to celebrate the completion of Tingewick’s new affordable housing development on Field Close will be held on Monday 4 June 2007. 

The scheme, which comprises eight new homes, will be officially opened in a ceremony for local councillors at 11:00 am, led by the Chairman of Aylesbury Vale District Council, Councillor Netta Glover.

Field Close will be open for general viewing between 12:00 and 15:00 pm and visitors will be able to tour the development and view one of the homes.  Representatives from developers Hastoe Housing Association and Buckinghamshire Community Action’s (BCA) Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) will be on hand to show visitors around and discuss the scheme.

The new housing scheme provides homes for up to 28 people from the local area, most of who have already settled in.  There are eight properties: 2 one-bedroom flats and 2 two-bedroom houses for shared ownership; and 2 two-bedroom flats and 2 two-bedroom houses for rent.  All the homes have been built by Hastoe Housing Association, which has more than 3,600 properties across Southern England and specialises in rural developments.

The Field Close scheme reflects the results of a housing needs survey conducted in February 2004 by the Rural Housing Enabler with the assistance of the parish council.  The development was completed through a partnership with Hastoe Housing Association, Aylesbury Vale District Council and BCA.

Jean Fox of BCA said: “We are all delighted that, together with Hastoe and AVDC, we have managed to provide these much-needed flats and houses for the people of Tingewick.  All over the country small villages are in desperate need of homes for people that belong to the community but can’t afford to buy or rent on the open market.”

These developments, known as ‘exception schemes’, help in a small way to provide housing for the very people that played a part in making the parish a desirable environment to live in the first place and go some way to maintaining the dynamics of a vibrant and balanced community,” she added.

Caroline Proverbs, Chief Executive of Hastoe Housing Association said: “These new homes make a vital contribution to sustaining the village community, and through good design, provide homes that residents can feel are good places to come home to.”

Councillor Michael Edmonds, Deputy Leader of AVDC and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “Affordable housing is a concern to many local people, which is why it is a high priority for AVDC. We are very happy to have worked with Hastoe Housing Association on this successful project, and are especially pleased these homes have been specifically earmarked for local people. We look forward to completing similar schemes in the future.”