Frequently Asked Questions

The results of the 2020 Parish Housing Needs Survey carried out by the Rural Housing Enabler of Action Hampshire indicated there was a need for development of affordable homes for local people in the Parish. The results identified a need for housing from 23 local households, the majority having a need for two bedroom homes. These homes will be for people who are;

• Unable to afford to buy outright in the Parish

• Who cannot find rented accommodation; and

• Who have a strong local connection to the village.

These affordable rented homes can not be bought or sold and will remain available for rent to local people in perpetuity.

The following sources were examined for potential sites; the original review in 2011/12, submissions made as part of the Local Plan process sites; Parish and District landholdings, a desktop review and those from a “call for sites” made to local landowners. The shortlist was compiled by a working group including members of the Parish Council, the Rural Housing Enabler, representatives from Hart District Council and English Rural HA.

On each of these sites, the landowner has confirmed the potential availability of their land for such a project.

The full costs of the scheme will be met by English Rural Housing Association. Housing Associations are non-profit organisations, which invest all their income into the business. There are no profits or dividends for shareholders.

New developments are primarily financed from a combination of capital reserves and commercial borrowing, often topped up with Government grant funding.

'Local' means a person who is:

• Currently resident in the parish;

• Was previously resident in the parish and wants to return;

• Is permanently employed in the parish; or

• Is connected by close family still living in the parish

A legally enforceable definition will be agreed with the Parish Council and Hart District Council.

If a future vacancy occurs in one of the homes and no one from Eversley Parish, with the qualifying connection, is in need at that time, then applicants with similar connections to neighbouring Parishes will be considered. The names of the Parishes close to Eversley will be agreed with the Parish Council and will be specified in the planning agreement. However, it is very rare that we have to look for applicants from outside the Parish in which a development has been built.

Before planning permission is granted, we will enter into a legally enforceable planning agreement with the Local Authority to ensure that the affordable homes are allocated to local people and can never be sold on the open market.

NO. The statutory Right to Buy applies to Council owned properties only. A similar, but less generous scheme, the Right to Acquire is available to Housing Association tenants, but not those in smaller designated rural settlements. The Parish has the designation of a smaller rural settlement and therefore tenants will not be able to buy or acquire their rented homes, thus preserving their affordable status for future generations of local people.

Following this consultation, one site will be selected. The detailed design of the development will commence and will include the undertaking of the many specialist surveys and reports to support a planning application. These will include, among many others, the full consideration of current and proposed ecology, biodiversity, drainage and transportation. We are aiming to submit a planning application in late spring of 2023, with a view to construction commencing in early 2024.

English Rural is asking people, who have a local connection and need an affordable home, to register their interest by clicking the tab at the top of the page. Alternatively you can visit our website at englishrural.org.uk and read more about what we do. If you prefer, you can also call 020 7820 7930 to request a form or speak to someone about registering.

Interested applicants looking for an affordable rented home will also need to register with Hart District Council and access to the online application is via https://hart.homeconnections.org.uk/ or telephone 01252 774420.