Celebrating new homes in Pamber
Action Hampshire has been working with parish councils and communities to deliver rural affordable housing for nearly 20 years. As Hampshire Homes Hub we continue this work across Hampshire.
This year, 12 new affordable homes for local people were delivered in Pamber.
We first started working with Pamber Parish Council back in 2009. My first job when I joined Action Hampshire was to go with my then manager to a Parish Council meeting to discuss helping the Parish Council to deliver a small affordable housing scheme for local residents. I was then tasked with helping the Parish Council to search for a suitable site.
The timeline below shows the hard work and dedication given by all partners to help make this dream a reality.
As you can see, the process was not always straight forward, but as a result of the commitment and hard work of Pamber Parish Council, working with Action Hampshire, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Hampshire County Council and Hastoe Housing Association, these homes are now finished and the residents have moved in.
The homes
The scheme provided 12 affordable homes for local people, 7 rented and 5 for shared ownership
4 x 1 bed flats; 6 x 2 bed houses and 2 x 3 bed houses
I am delighted Pamber Parish has 12 beautiful affordable homes available for local people. This scheme was one of the first projects I worked on back in 2009. From day one Pamber Parish Council were really on board with this project and never took their eyes off the prize, though we had many hurdles to climb on this journey, one being the location of Pamber Parish in relation to Aldermaston AWE.
The Parish Council alongside other partners on this project, Hastoe Housing Association, Basingstoke and Deane officers and members, Hampshire County Council and many other stakeholders, unpicked the hurdles to deliver 12 affordable homes for the community, which will be retained in perpetuity for this community.
I am really proud of the part I played in helping to make this scheme happen.
Pamber Parish Council
We recently met Chris Goss, Pamber Parish Council Chair at the scheme and he told us about the journey the Parish Council had been on and how pleased they are that the homes have now been delivered.
“12 long years after Pamber Parish Council first voted to investigate the possibility of providing affordable housing for local people, we finally have a development of one, two and three bedroomed properties.
Along the way we have had difficulties with proving local demand, identifying suitable sites, obtaining planning permission, negotiating with landowners, attempting to assuage local resident’s concerns and even dealing with the fall-out of the Covid 19 pandemic.
Eventually, thanks to the sterling efforts of Wm. Stirland builders and Hastoe Housing Association the 12 units are now occupied by tenants with a local connection. The Council would like to thank all those who supported their efforts to provide this development, in particular Mags Wylie who was a rock of dependability throughout.”
What’s in a name?
Why Arthur Close? In 2018 the Council commemorated 100 years since the end of World War 1 by purchasing a specially designed bench to be placed in Pamber Park and, with the full agreement of the War Horse Memorial CIC, a silhouette of a War Horse to be placed outside of The Plough Inn in Little London. Research showed that Arthur Pearce, a regular soldier in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, was 27 years old when killed at the Battle of Mons leaving a wife, 2 daughters and an unborn son who lived in a cottage close to The Plough. Councillors decided to name the War Horse in his honour and when names were sought for the new development the Council continued with the theme.
Other benefits for the local community as a result of the scheme
The Parish Council have advised that the developer’s contribution from this and other developments in the Parish have funded the purchase and installation of exercise equipment and the construction of a disabled friendly path in Pamber Park, along with the purchase of benches, “two of which are dedicated to all those who gave so much to help us to cope with the Covid pandemic”.
Hampshire Homes Hub
Affordable rural housing gives local people on modest incomes, the opportunity to be able to remain in or return to a parish where they have a strong local connection, helping to maintain a mixed community, which is sustainable and inclusive.
We at Hampshire Homes Hub work to support parish councils and communities to deliver the homes needed for local people. Please do get in touch if you would like to deliver affordable homes for local people in your parish.