TV presenter and environmental campaign Charlie Luxton told of how impressed he was with White Horse Housing Association’s £2.8 million passive homes as he officially opened the ten-home development in Seend Cleeve.

White Horse Housing Association (WHHA) staff, contractors and members of Seend Community Land Trust (SCLT) joined residents and villagers as the homes, which are believed to be the most energy-efficient social housing in the UK, were handed over at a day of celebration.

As he unveiled a commemorative stone he said:

“What has been achieved here is really important because there is a crisis within housing, certainly in rural communities. We have an issue with affordability in rural housing and that is leading to a reduction in the socio-economic diversity in rural communities. They are becoming the realm of the wealthy and that is problematic on many levels.”

Mr Luxton, who is involved in a community land trust in Oxfordshire, praised SCLT for consulting the community to end up with a development that met its needs.

“That’s why I was delighted to come down here today,” he said. “I think what has been achieved is extraordinary, congratulations to everybody involved.”

The £2.8 million development has four two-bedroomed, one three-bedroomed and two one-bedroom homes for rent as well as two three-beds and one two-bed for shared ownership sale and is built on 0.327ha of former farmland at Seend Cleeve in partnership with Seend Community Land and Asset Trust (SCLAT), Seend Parish Council and Wiltshire Council. Villagers were also given a say by the trust in the site and the design of the homes.

The development has been named Hook Hollow after Tony and Carol Hook, who farmed there since the 1960s.

WHHA Chief Executive Steve Warran said it was a proud day for staff and partners.

“It has been a long road but I am very proud that we have delivered the passive homes the community land trust wanted.

“It is very gratifying to see the residents moving in and being so happy here. The most important thing we do as an association is to provide high quality housing in rural areas where they are so desperately needed. We have really raised the bar with this sustainable development and I’m proud of how hard all of our staff, partners and contractors have worked to achieve this.”

New tenants Jan Scotland and Allan Tayler were overjoyed when they were successful in their application. Allan, 70, grew up in Seend and still has friends and family there. Allan is a carer and they lost their home when the lady he was looking after died.

“This has taken so much pressure off, knowing that we've got somewhere to go,” said Jan. “It's beautiful and we feel so lucky to be here.”

For more details about the housing association or to get in touch, go to whitehorsehousing.co.uk.

	Architectural designer and TV presenter Charlie Luxton, centre, with White Horse Housing Association Chief Executive Steve Warran, left, and Chairman David Trethewey at the opening of the Hook Hollow Passive Haus development at Seend Cleeve
	Architectural designer and TV presenter Charlie Luxton chats with new residents Carrie Law and Alan Taylor