A TV presenter and architectural designer has officially opened a 10 home development in Seend Cleeve.
Charlie Luxton lauded White Horse Housing Association’s £2.8 million development and spoke of the importance of such initiatives in the face of a housing crisis.
White Horse Housing Association staff, contractors and members of Seend Community Land Trust joined residents and villagers as the homes, which are believed to be the most energy-efficient social housing in the UK, were handed over.
Mr Luxton said: "What has been achieved here is really important because there is a crisis within housing, certainly in rural communities.
"We have an issue with affordability in rural housing and that is leading to a reduction in the socio-economic diversity in rural communities.
"They are becoming the real of the wealthy and that is problematic on many levels.”
He said between 2019 and 2022 just seven per cent of affordable housing was built in rural communities.
Mr Luxton, who is involved in a community land trust in Oxfordshire, praised Seend Community Land Trust for consulting the community.
He said: "I think what has been achieved is extraordinary, congratulations to everybody involved."
The development comprises four two-bedroom, one three-bedroom and two one-bedroom homes for rent, as well as two three-bed and one two-bed for shared ownership sale.
The site is former farmland, and the development was built with Seend Community Land and Asset Trust, Seend Parish Council and Wiltshire Council as partners.
The homes are rented only to people with local connections.
Construction began in August 2022 but was delayed after it took 18 months to move an electricity pole and cable.
The homes arrived on site in ‘kit form’, comprising pre-cut timber frames which were then assembled, insulated with sustainable wool and sealed with airtight wind and waterproof tape before the exterior was cladded.
White Horse Housing Association chief executive Steve Warran said: "It has been a long road but I am very proud that we have delivered the passive homes the community land trust wanted."
Two new tenants are Jan Scotland and Allan Tayler. Mr Tayler grew up in Seend and still has friends and family there.
He is a carer and they lost their home when the lady he was looking after died.
Ms Scotland said: "This has taken so much pressure off, knowing that we've got somewhere to go.
"It's beautiful and we feel so lucky to be here."
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