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A scheme to build eight low-cost homes in Boxford has been approved by members of Babergh District Council’s Development Committee.
Councillors backed the application by Suffolk Heritage Housing Association to build the properties (half of which will be for rent, the other half in shared ownership) plus 10 garages at Homefield, on the edge of the village.
Richard Watson, Head of Planning (Control) said “there was a comprehensive debate that looked at a broad range of planning issues connected with the site, including Local Plan policies, the local need for housing, visual impact, parking and the impact on the local roads. The committee overwhelmingly backed the recommendation to approve the development”.
The scheme is the latest in a sequence of new low-cost projects in the neighbouring villages of Boxford, Edwardstone and Groton since the three took part in a housing needs survey. This proved that there was a high and unmet level of need for affordable housing in each of their three communities.
Since the survey, Babergh’s housing team has been working with the parish councils, local landowners and Flagship Housing to develop new low-cost housing. With small-scale developments at Mill Green View, Edwardstone and at Partridge Close, Groton, the Homefield development is the latest stage in this process.
Ian Tippett, Babergh’s Housing Enabling Manager said that the latest thumbs-up “is really good news not just for the families who stand to benefit by being able to stay in the area, but also for local schools and shops who will retain their custom and support”.
Babergh is working with its many housing partners to build 700 new affordable homes in the five years up until March 2010.
More information about affordable housing.
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