Symene Community Land Trust & Hastoe officially opens new housing development

Symene Community Land Trust and Hastoe officially opened a new affordable housing development for the local people of Symondsbury at an event on Friday 22nd May.

The Symene Community Land Trust was formed in 2008 with the specific aim of providing affordable housing for local people. A survey of the parish indicated that there was a significant level of housing need and overwhelming support for a housing scheme for the benefit of the community. Support was provided by Wessex CLT Project and a partnership was formed with Hastoe.

Ten, high quality affordable homes have been provided on the outskirts of Bridport on land bordering Symondsbury. The scheme comprises five 2 bedroom, two 3 bedroom houses and one 4 bedroom house for Affordable Rent. One 2 bedroom and one 3 bedroom house have also been provided for Shared Ownership.

The land was generously made available by local landowners George and Amanda Streatfeild who also formally opened the development.

The homes constructed by C G Fry & Son were funded by Hastoe, the Homes and Communities Agency and West Dorset District Council. Employer’s Agent services were provided by Frazer Garner Associates.

Vince O’Farrell, Secretary of the Symene Community Land Trust, said:

“The CLT is very pleased that this project which started in August 2008 has come to fruition and that there are ten more affordable houses for local families in housing need. Thanks are due to all the partners involved in the project and particularly to the group of Symondsbury volunteers who had the foresight to set up the CLT some years ago and have seen the project through to reality.”

Cllr Anthony Alford, Leader of West Dorset District Council said:

“I am delighted that the council have been able to help fund such an important scheme to provide much-needed affordable homes for local people. Particular thanks must go to the landowners for providing the land, without which the project would not have been possible. This development is just one of the ways we’re working with community groups and housing associations to provide affordable housing that meets the changing demographic and social needs of the area. I highly commend the work of all those involved and look forward to supporting more of these projects in the future.”

Kevin Murch, Construction Director for C G Fry & Son, said:

“We are delighted to have been part of this project with Hastoe, which will provide much-needed affordable homes to the local community. The project has gone well and we have enjoyed working with all the team.”

Kevin Hartnett, Business Development Director at Hastoe, said:

“I’m delighted to see our new homes at Symene opened after nearly seven years of hard work from everyone involved. I want to pass my thanks on to the landowners, the Community Land Trust, the District Council and the local community, without whom this development wouldn’t have been possible.”