The Rural Housing Team celebrated Rural Housing Week 2019 which took place from July 1st to 5th. This event is organised yearly by the National Housing Federation, Rural Housing Alliance and Rural Services Network.
As part of the week’s activities, Lesley Nel, the Rural Housing Team Leader, attended the opening ceremony of a new development by Hastoe homes in South Tawton (pictured). This development consists of six affordable homes for rent which have a local connection requirement to ensure that they go to local people in perpetuity. The event was attended by representatives from West Devon Borough Council, Dartmoor National Park Planning Authority and Hastoe as well as members of the Parish Council and tenants of the new homes. MP Mel Stride was also present for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Attendees enjoyed a buffet lunch in the village hall.
A need for new homes in South Tawton was originally identified in 2014 through a housing need survey conducted by the DCT Rural Housing team. Since then, the Parish Council have worked closely with the local authority, DNPA and Hastoe to meet this need.
The homes are built to Lifetime Homes standard which means they can be easily adapted as tenants age or suffer health or mobility issues. They are also built to a high level of sustainability with air source heat pumps and a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system, which contributes towards heating the homes. The MVHR provides fresh filtered air into the homes, whilst retaining most of the energy that has already been used in heating the building. This ensures lower fuel consumption and lower energy bills for tenants making the homes even more affordable.