Legendary new homes at Tintagel
Rural Housing Week showcases the fantastic work that housing associations do in rural communities. Westward Housing, based in the far south west of England, is committed to providing affordable homes that people love and in turn keep vital rural services and communities thriving.
Westward provided affordable housing for local people as part of a rural development of brand new properties in highly desirable Cornish destination, Tintagel, this year.
Four one-bedroomed ground and first floor flats were let to local people through Cornwall Homechoice. Residents had to meet the relevant criteria and hold a section 106 local connection in the first instance to the parish of Tintagel and, secondly, to the next four neighbouring parishes of Trevalga, Forrabury & Minster or St Teath.
Areas such as Tintagel have scarce affordable housing and this has offered local people the opportunity to be able to stay and rent or buy a home where they live. The average house price in Cornwall in 2019 was £262,749 which requires an income of over £60.057 pa. Average income in Cornwall is £23,176 giving an eleven times ratio of house price to income.
The quality of our homes is extremely high. Our two affordable shared ownership homes there are three-bedroom with solar photovoltaic panels to keep costs down and ensure a good carbon footprint as part of Westward’s sustainability strategy. The shared ownership homes are protected long-term by a rural repurchase clause, so they remain affordable and local in perpetuity.
Chapelfield, St Mabyn (near Wadebridge)
Westward has also committed to building 9 affordable rented and 6 shared ownership homes at this Cornish location. This will include four one-bedroom bungalows under a section 106 local connection, with the first home expected to be ready in early 2022.