Aster Group and Nailsworth CLT ‘hand over’ new homes

A five -year community-led project to build new homes for local people in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, is now complete with residents having moved into their new homes at the end of March.

The site at Valley View has been developed by award-winning housing association Aster Group in partnership with Nailsworth Community Land Trust.

The development of four two-bedroom houses and six one-bedroom flats has been built by E G Carter Ltd and have been let only to tenants who have a connection to the local area.

The 10 homes were ‘handed over’ to the community during an event on 11 April, which saw attendees welcomed by Ian Potts of Nailsworth CLT before having a tour of one of the new homes followed by refreshments at the local community centre.

Nailsworth CLT was created after a steering group was set up in 2013 to address local housing need in the area.

The homes are located on a former garage site that was sold to the CLT by Stroud District Council for £1. The development has been influenced by the community from the start, with planning permission being granted via a ‘Community Right to Build Order’, after locals got the chance to vote on whether or not the project should go ahead.

Now construction has finished, the CLT will retain ownership of the land and Aster Group will manage and maintain the properties and tenancies. 

Karl Hine, development manager - community housing, for Aster Group said: “We’re pleased to have worked alongside Nailsworth CLT to bring these much-needed affordable homes to local people.

“Working in partnership with the CLT has meant that we can provide homes that are not only needed but wanted by the community.

“We have an ambitious development programme and although CLT projects typically don’t involve large numbers of homes, they do enable us to target a range of different communities and work towards our vision that everyone has a home.”

As part of managing the new homes Aster has gone above and beyond just providing the basic specification by also fitting carpets to these properties as a way of helping new residents settle in and feel more at home.

Ian Potts, Chair of the Nailsworth CLT said: “We are so proud of Valley View and what it provides for the community. This development is a triumph for the CLT, 10 new homes that will be in the Town's ownership forever, let to residents with local connections.

“The partnership working with Aster Group, GCP architects and EG Carter and the help given by Stroud District Council have been invaluable and we thank them all.”

Jonathan Duckworth, Mayor of Nailsworth and CLT Board Member said: “To see the homes occupied takes me back to the Housing Needs Survey of 2013 and the need for affordable homes to rent in Nailsworth. Ian Crawley and The Town Council set the development process in motion and the CLT has been tenacious and thorough in progressing the Valley View site.

“This is a wonderful community project, something for the town to celebrate.”

Helen Bone, Housing Delivery Specialist for Homes England said: “Homes England is delighted to have supported Nailsworth CLT and Aster in the delivery of these high quality community-led affordable homes. 

“Inspired by the pioneering work of Nailsworth CLT and other community-led housing organisations, the Government has launched the £163m Community Housing Fund.  The fund provides an exciting option for Homes England to support more communities to lead the development of housing to meet local needs, delivering lasting benefit for themselves and their communities.”