The Parish Council and the Neighbourhood Plan understand from Rother District Council that Optivo (a Housing Association that already owns and manages affordable housing in Hurst Green) have agreed a package deal with the landowners of the HG35, and with Greymoor Homes for them to build the housing development. 

The approved scheme was for 20 homes. The planning permission sets out a requirement for 6 of the homes to be for Affordable Rent and 2 of the homes for Shared Ownership. The remaining 12 homes were due to be for open market sale, as per Rother District Council policy, however we understand that Optivo are proposing for those 12 homes to be for Shared Ownership sale. 

Shared Ownership is a form of low cost home ownership that allows first time buyers who can’t afford to purchase on the open market to buy their own home and make a start on the housing ownership ladder. Buyers begin by purchasing a share of between 25% and 75%, and then over time can purchase further shares until fully owned.

We understand that Optivo are also seeking to change the approved housing mix, reducing the number of 4 bedroom properties from 7 to 3, changing these instead to 3 bedroom properties.

http://planweb01.rother.gov.uk/OcellaWeb/planningDetails?reference=RR/2019/2194/P&from=planningSearch

View the original Parish Council’s response to the planning application here: https://hurstgreen2030.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Foundry-Close-Planning-Application-RR20192194P-on-site-HG-35-Parish-Council.pdf