New affordable homes for village in South Downs National Park
April 27, 2022
The National Park Authority is pleased to have been able to support Angmering Community Land Trust (CLT) with the provision of five affordable new homes in the parish.
The parish, located on the edge of the National Park, has seen an increase in property prices in recent years, meaning local residents and workers have often been unable to find affordable homes in the village.
The development completed in March and includes three shared ownership properties and two affordable rental properties. The dwellings are the first homes supported by the Authority’s Affordable Housing Grant to have air-sourced heat pumps installed. These pumps provide improved sustainability and further support the reduction of living costs for the new residents.
Tony Cross, Chair of Angmering CLT, said: “The grant from the South Downs National Park Authority quite simply made the difference between being able to buy the five affordable homes or not. It also helped to ensure the homes were in fact ‘affordable’ for local people by allowing us to keep rents well below typical market rents. The process for obtaining the grant was also straightforward with good communication and support provided by the Affordable Housing Grants Officer.’
Gill Welsman, who oversees these grants at the National Park, added: “We mustn’t underestimate the difference our Affordable Housing Grants can make to enabling the provision of affordable homes.
“By supporting not-for-profit organisations, such as Community Land Trusts, who are committed to delivering sustainable affordable homes in perpetuity, we protect affordable living within parishes in the National Park for future generations.”
One new resident works for Angmering-based charity Cancer United, which provides support for cancer sufferers through indoor and outdoor fitness and other group activities.
They said: “We’re delighted with the opportunity that has been provided for us to get on the housing ladder. Without the provision of shared ownership homes such as ours we simply would have had no opportunity to purchase our own home in Angmering.’