Ref: PRSH92 Date: Feb 2016

Affordable homes to rent on the edge of beautiful Staffordshire countryside

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An affordable housing scheme is set to provide 16 quality homes to rent in a rural location close to Staffordshire's largest conurbation.

The £2.8 million Stonehills Close development by Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) in Hilderstone Road, Meir Heath, is just a short drive from the heart of The Potteries but backs onto open fields.

It is being built on a rural exception site with the backing of Fulford Parish Council - which helped to identify a clear local need for affordable housing - and the support of the Homes and Communities Agency that provided £300,000 grant funding.

Karen Armitage, SARH Chief Executive, explained: "We have worked closely with both the local Parish Council and Stafford Borough Council to find a suitable location for new, affordable homes that will enable people to live in communities where they have a strong connection.

"I am delighted to see that work is progressing well on site and look forward to completion of the development in spring this year as we start celebrations to mark our 10^thanniversary year."

During a recent site visit to Stonehills Close, Cllr Roy Taylor, Vice Chair of Fulford Parish Council, commented: "We suggested to SARH that land in Hilderstone Road, previously a disused plant nursery, would be a suitable location for affordable rental homes needed in the parish, and I'm delighted to see the development now taking shape."

When complete, Stonehills Close will offer 18 two-bedroom and 2 three-bedroom homes built on behalf of SARH by housebuilder Partner Construction. As well as providing 16 homes for rent, the development also includes four shared ownership properties - offering an ideal opportunity for local people who would not otherwise be able to afford to get onto the housing ladder.

Steve Walsh, Construction Directorat Partner Construction, commented: "This development at Stonehills Close is a first between ourselves and Stafford and Rural Homes and one that the team at Partner should be proud of. 

"The new homes all comply with the Code For Sustainable Homes Level Three, which means they are highly energy efficient and could help customers save money by reducing their energy bills with features such as high efficiency boilers and outdoor rotary driers."

Also present during the recent site visit was Cllr Jeremy Pert, Cabinet Member for Communities at Stafford Borough Council, who said:"We know that there was a significant demand for affordable homes in this area of Meir Heath and the volume of enquiries from people interested in living in these new attractive, spacious and well-designed homes really demonstrates this. 

"Through working in partnership with a variety of parties, SARH has been able to deliver a great range of houses that people will be proud to live in for many years to come."

Further information about Stonehills Close, including details on how to become a SARH customer, are available by visiting the social landlord's website at www.sarh.co.uk.

Caption:

Pictured during a site visit at the Stonehills development are (left to right): Fulford Parish Council Vice Chairman Cllr Roy Taylor, Parish Clerk, Stephen Beck;Steve Walsh, Construction Directorat Partner Construction; Cllr Jeremy Pert, Cabinet Member for Communities at Stafford Borough Council; Karen Armitage, SARH Chief Executive; Paul Gascoigne from the HCA; and Fulford Parish Cllr Angela Noblett.

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Editor's Notes

Media contact:

Martin Farrow

CHANGEWORKS Communications
t:  + 44 (0) 1785 247588

m: +44 (0)7771 970025

e: mfarrow@changeworkscom.co.uk

Stafford and Rural Homes contact:

Mara Hargreaves
Marketing Manager

t:01785 216793 (Direct) 

m:07800 619 863 (Mobile)  

e: mara.hargreaves@sarh.co.uk