Poplars Road, Croft, Leicestershire
Exception Site success sees a second phase delivered to meet local housing needs
The project
Completed: 2017
Homes: The scheme of four houses and two bungalows has provided 5 homes for rent and 1 for shared ownership for those with a connection to Croft. It is an extension of the original rural exception site at Poplars Road which was first built in 2009.
Funding: HCA, Blaby District Council, Leicestershire County Council & emh group
The story
A housing needs survey by Midlands Rural Housing was requested following the success of a previous rural exception site in the village. The survey identified further local affordable housing need and the partnership explored ways of meeting it.
The views of the wider community were sought as to whether a one-off extension to the existing exception site would be welcomed as the land was being made available for this by Leicestershire County Council. 88% of feedback from the public engagement event was supportive of more homes for local people and, to the satisfaction of the community, emh group designed the scheme so no further extensions to the site would be possible.
Funding for the scheme was another piece of partnership working from members of the Leicestershire Rural Housing Group with contributions coming in various forms from emh group, Blaby District Council, Leicestershire County Council and the Homes & Communities Agency.
The residents, who all have a local connection to Croft, moved in during February 2017. The new homes are being managed by Leicestershire Rural Housing Association on behalf of emh homes and have allowed local people to remain living and working in their community.
