A community-led housing project has scooped a prestigious award from the industry magazine Inside Housing.
Published: Friday, 4th October 2024
The Hook Norton Community Land Trust has been named “Best affordable housing development – less than £5m” at the Inside Housing Development Awards 2024. The success follows years of support from Cherwell District Council.
The development at Bourne Green offers 12 homes built to Passivhaus-equivalent thermal standards and has been led by the local community, using land provided by the council for affordable housing.
The development integrates a smart electricity microgrid and renewable energy systems, and it was constructed using better-than-carbon-zero building practices. This led to judges praising its “sustainable and innovative practices.”
Councillor Nick Cotter, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “This outstanding local success is a testament to the Hook Norton community’s hard work, and I am really pleased that the council has played a role in facilitating their forward-thinking vision.
“Social housing can be hard to deliver in rural areas, but The Hook Norton Community Land Trust has shown what communities can achieve with support from a local authority that understands and supports their ambitions. I hope it serves as an inspiration to broaden the conversation about how we meet our climate goals and deliver rural housing.”
Cathy Ryan, Chair of the Hook Norton Community Land Trust, said: “Our community-led project, that began at grassroots level, proves that we can build affordable, sustainable homes that generate and share their own clean renewable energy through a microgrid.
“If we can do it, anyone can, and it could become the way we build our homes in every community in Oxfordshire. Our project proves that organisations working together can deliver affordable homes that transform people’s lives.”
Over the years council officers have worked closely with the Trust to provide expert advice on local housing need, types of tenure, and policy requirements.
The development comprises eight social homes, which are offered at affordable rates, and four homes that are sold at full market price.
It also includes amenities for the benefit of the wider community, which were developed through extensive consultation with the residents of the village. They include a multi-use hub comprising a co-working space, visitor rooms for guests and a shared growing space.