On Monday evening Babergh’s Strategic Housing and Economic Development Manager, Ian Tippett, gave an interesting talk at the Acton Annual Parish Meeting about the possibility of setting up an affordable housing scheme in the village. Babergh has noticed that around 20 of the people on the housing waiting list, which now amounts to 2000 families, come from Acton. It has therefore been suggested to the Parish Council that a housing needs survey be carried out in the village to guage the demand for affordable homes for local people.
Often such a survey discovers that, in addition to those registered on the council's waiting list, there are others in need who have not thought it worth registering. This means that the level of pent up demand in the village could be higher than the 20 already noted.
If a need is established, the Parish Council could decide to agree to sponsor a scheme in partnership with Babergh. Land would need to be identified and a Housing Association appointed to put the scheme into practice.
Acton, surprisingly, does not have that many ‘affordable’ homes in the village*. Of around 750 or so dwellings, only around 70 or so fall into the affordable category. The turnover of families from these properties tends to be very low, so it is not surprising that it is now believed there is a demand for more.
At the moment Babergh is very keen to promote these schemes in order to meet our affordable homes target. Usually a number of affordable homes are provided when estates of over 12 houses are developed. Typically around 30% of the houses built would be ‘affordable’. However, in the current economic climate few developers are making a start on new projects, and, as their profit margins are squeezed, some are attempting to renegotiate the percentage of affordable homes that they provide.
Ian’s talk was listened to with interest by the residents present and a number of good questions were put to him.
Any further news on this issue will be included on the blog. If you have any questions about this please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Babergh's definition of Affordable Housing: 'Affordable housing includes social rented housing and intermediate housing, provided to specified eligible households whose needs are not met by the market'.
