Thame site for affordable homes revealed

THAME Community Land Trust, has announced the identity of the site in Thame, where it aims to build 30 ‘affordable homes’ for local people.

The TCLT was founded in 2018 by a group of Thame residents, Chaired by Thame Town Councillor, Bob Austin, with the goal of building genuinely affordable housing to buy or rent which meets the needs of local people, especially those who cannot afford open market prices or access social housing.

The Trust is supported by Homes England, which is a body funded by  the UK Government, and Thame Town Council. It now wants to hear the views of local residents who live near the site about the proposed development before going for a full planning application.

A public exhibition will be held before the planning application is submitted, another opportunity for the public to have a say.

About the site

• The site is situated at the end of Windmill Road, south of the Phoenix Trail and to the west of the allotments. It is, therefore, close to the town centre.
• The size of the site is just over 3 acres and an agreement has been reached to buy it from the owners 
• Traffic and parking will meet optimum standards for the neighbourhood. In particular attention will be given to the preservation and upgrading across the Phoenix Trail.
• The site is an ‘exception’ site, as such it is not available on the open market.                                                                
• Road access will be limited to this site and not to a wider area. 
• A pre-planning application has been submitted and received favourable feedback from SODC (the planning authority) to the proposals.
• The proposal is for around 30 homes of the most sustainable nature that can be achieved. ( They will be a mix of 1, 2 & 3 bedroom.)
•  The site will be designed with publicly accessible areas  and footpaths.
• Environmental planting will be in collaboration with the Thame Green Living Group.                                                                                                                    
  
  Who are the homes for?   

• The Homes will be for local people. In particular they will be for those who cannot afford the open market or access social housing. They will be affordable to rent or buy.                                

 How does the trust know who needs these homes?

• A housing needs survey was carried out in December 2019, which covered all of Thame. It defined the types of home needed.                                        • The homes will stay affordable for local people in perpetuity by being developed by the Community Land Trust.  

A leaflet about the site and how to comment, will be delivered to all residents living near the site.