Today, English Rural was honoured to welcome its patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, to officially open the innovative Millbrook affordable housing development in Chiddingstone Chequers, Kent. The Princess Royal’s visit marks a significant milestone for the local community, celebrating the collaborative efforts that have helped tackle England’s rural housing challenges.
Delivered in partnership with Sevenoaks District Council and Chiddingstone Parish Council, the £2.44 million scheme provides eight high-quality homes for affordable rent, directly addressing the pressing housing needs of local people. Located in the picturesque hamlet of Bough Beech, the development features a mix of maisonettes and semi-detached houses, all designed in traditional Kentish style using red brick and tile. Built with timber frame construction, the homes incorporate energy-efficient technologies such as air source heat pumps and solar PV panels, achieving a minimum EPC rating of B85.
The Princess Royal toured the new homes, met with residents, stakeholders, and community members, and heard first-hand how affordable housing solutions like this help keep villages vibrant and vital. The site also boasts new green verges, native planting, and improved access routes, ensuring the development blends seamlessly with its rural surroundings. All homes have now been allocated to households with strong local connections, following a local housing needs survey and enthusiastic support from the community and parish council.
Martin Collett, Chief Executive of English Rural, commented, “It is an honour to welcome our patron HRH The Princess Royal to officially open our Millbrook development. This development is a testament to what can be achieved when communities, councils, and housing associations work together. These homes will allow local people to remain in the area they know and love, strengthening the fabric of rural life in Kent.”
Cllr Perry Cole, Sevenoaks District Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, added: “We are excited to have played a role bringing these much needed, high quality socially rented homes to Bough Beech. Our local housing needs survey identified a strong demand for affordable homes, specifically for residents with a local connection to the area. These types of small developments are essential for the local economy, services and the future vitality of the area.”
The Princess Royal unveiled a commemorative plaque and received a posey from Hazel Joyce, aged 2½, marking the occasion with a personal touch. Representatives from Pentar Design Partnership and Arazu Construction Limited were also in attendance, celebrating the successful completion of the project.
With over 300,000 people currently waiting for social housing in rural England, and demand far outstripping supply, initiatives like the Chiddingstone Chequers scheme offer hope and practical solutions for countryside communities. English Rural remains committed to working with villages and rural partners to secure affordable homes for local people, helping to keep rural England thriving for generations to come.
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