Affordable Housing in a Rural Community

Published on 7 May 2008

Epping Forest District Council and Hastoe Housing Association celebrated the official opening of a recently-completed scheme of eight high quality homes at Clifford Close, Matching Tye. The development comprises four two bedroom houses and four three bedroom houses for rent and shared ownership.

Epping Forest District Council put forward people with a local connection from its housing waiting list for the brand new houses for rent, which are all available at affordable rent levels below the market rate.

Matching Tye Parish Council had been trying to provide a scheme to meet local needs for many years and throughout this period has been in contact with several Housing Associations. However, the provision of a suitable site was a real challenge. Matching Parish Council asked Hastoe to look around Matching Parish for potential sites and there were several available. However, the best was in the ownership of a Parish Councillor, who wanted to give something back to the community and whose father the scheme is named after. Hastoe agreed terms and the site was acceptable to the Planning Department as an exception site. Exception to planning policy can be granted on Green Belt land which abuts the village development boundary if the provision is for 100% affordable housing in perpetuity for local need.

With the support of Epping Forest District Council’s Director of Housing Alan Hall, Hastoe overcame highways issues and the scheme was granted planning permission in November 2006. Work started on site in January 2007 and T J Evers, a local builder based in Colchester, constructed the scheme.

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