Frequently Asked Questions

English Rural believe affordable homes help ensure balanced and sustainable communities.  The development of small affordable housing schemes are supported in the Test Valley Local Plan.  The site which was the subject of a previous planning application for 12 homes is bounded by existing development of the school, pub and existing homes either side of Stoke Road, providing an opportunity to integrate  new and existing  development, with minimal impact on the countryside.

The new homes will be for people who are:

• Unable to afford to buy in the Parish;

• Who cannot find rented accommodation; and 

• Who have a strong local connection to the village and the community

These affordable homes can never be sold on the open market and they are reserved in perpetuity for local people. 

The homes will be designed to exceed the new stringent 2021 Building Regulations.  There will be a focus on "Fabric First" principles with high levels of insulation to the floors, walls and roofs; high performance doors and windows and careful attention to the construction to improve airtightness .  Air Source Heat Pumps will provide heating and hot water. Ventilation will be controlled through a MVHR  (Mechancially Vented Heat Recovery  System.)   Photo- voltaic panels will provide elctricity reducing the carbon footprint of the buildings and providing low running costs for the residents.

The  full costs of the scheme will be met by English Rural Housing Association.  Housing Associations are "not for 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

If a  vacancy occurs in one of the homes and no one from Smannell; 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 Smannell will be specified in the planning agreement.   

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 , the rented homes can never be sold on the open market and the shared ownership properties are also retained as such, in perpetuity.

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.

Those in shared ownership homes are restricted to buying a maximum of 80% of the property; allowing English Rural to ensure when vacated, it can be allocated to a qualifying local person.

The current programme envisages the submission of a planning application at the beginning of 2024.  Construction of the new homes is not expected to start until 2025/26. 

English Rural is asking people, who have a local connection and interested in applying for one of the proposed homes, 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 Test Valley Borough Council and access to the online application is via  Hampshire Home Choice . 

Surface water runoff will be drained on site through SUD's (Sustainable Urban Drainage ) measures to new soakaways . Foul waste for the eight dwellings will be to a new  on site Sewage Treatmnent Plant, managed by English Rural HA.  Detailed ground investigations have  been conducted to support the design of the drainage strategy.