Local residents move into new affordable homes in time for Christmas

A group of local residents are set to enjoy Christmas in a new affordable home thanks to a joint partnership between Eastington Community Land Trust (ECLT) and housing association, Aster Group.

With the support of Stroud District Council and Homes England the site has provided 23 new homes for affordable rent helping those locally find somewhere to live. The properties includes one-bedroom bungalows, one-bedroom flats and two and three-bedroom houses.

Eastington CLT was set up by concerned residents of Eastington in response to the lack of affordable housing in the area. Tom Low, ECLT Secretary said: "The scale and experience of Aster Group has been a great help to ECLT. We are pleased to have achieved 100% of homes being let to people with a strong local connection, strengthening community bonds. Too many of our young people have had to move away to find affordable housing and now some of them are able to come back.

"We are pleased that Aster were willing to come on this journey to deliver much needed homes in the area."

Amanda Williams, Group development director at Aster said: “This project is an exemplary community-led housing development where we have worked with the local people to shape and deliver homes that the community truly needs. It means that over 50 local people have been able to stay in the area near the people and places they love.

“At Aster we have a vision that everyone has a home. We want to provide a mixture of housing options to fit different needs and this site is no exception. We’re proud to have worked alongside Eastington CLT to bring much-needed affordable homes to the area and we hope the residents have a wonderful Christmas in their new home.”

The homes have been built by local construction company EG Carter & Co Ltd and were designed with consideration to the environment with acoustic fencing and the infrastructure to enable the provision of future electric vehicle charging points.

Leslie Peacey who recently moved into his new one-bedroom flat said: “I’ve gone from thinking the worst where I’d never get to have my own home to being on cloud nine. Without the Eastington CLT I wouldn’t be able to stay in the village I was born and bred in, living in a brand new flat, which we can afford. And the amazing thing is I already know about 75% of the people in this community – it means the world.”

Mathew Vye, Associate Director, at E G Carter & Co Ltd said: “We are delighted to have supported both Aster and the Eastington CLT to deliver 23 affordable homes in Eastington and we are looking forward to the residents spending their first Christmas in their new homes. The project has been a fantastic advertisement for collaborative working, and we have created a strong base to further our partnership working with Aster.”

Helen Bone, Senior Manager for Growth & Affordable Housing at Homes England, said: “Twenty-three sets of keys have arrived under the tree early this year for the new residents of Fullers Close, many of whom will be spending the holidays in their new homes. Eastington CLT and Aster have worked with Stroud District Council, Homes England and local construction company EG Carter and Co Ltd to fund and build these much-needed new affordable homes. The volunteers at Eastington CLT have worked extremely hard to bring this project forward for their local community.

“We’d like to wish the new residents of Fullers Close and the thousands of other people spending the holidays in their new house for the first time a lovely festive break.”

Stroud District Council Housing Committee Chair, Mattie Ross said: “Providing affordable, energy efficient homes for our diverse and changing population is one of Stroud District Council’s top priorities and supporting this innovative community-led scheme is just one way of achieving this. I would like to congratulate Eastington CLT and partners for having the energy and vision to build much-needed new homes.”

For more information about Aster Group visit www.aster.co.uk.