Affordable Housing Scheme

Over many years, recognising that the south of England is an expensive area for homes, the West Dean Estate has worked closely with Hastoe Housing Association to provide affordable homes for local people.

There is an unmet and growing need for affordable housing in rural areas where property prices and rents are beyond the reach of a number of people. Increasingly local families have no alternative than to leave the area they have been part of, often over many generations.

At the same time the West Dean Estate is an important source of income for the Foundation’s charitable education objectives and the Trustees have sought to ease this dilemma through their support of affordable housing schemes. Building work has recently completed on two separate sites in West Dean village bringing the number of affordable homes on the Estate to eighteen, four of which are offered on a shared equity basis. All houses have been built and are managed by the Hastoe Housing Association while the freehold of all of the sites remains in the ownership of the Foundation.

All of the schemes have been supported by Chichester District Council and West Dean Parish Council who confirmed the local need for affordable homes at subsidised rents. Planning Permission was obtained with the proviso that when the houses are let priority must be given to applicants who have strong connections with West Dean.

Flinthas been used on the exterior of the houses and the styles have been carefully designed to harmonise with the local vernacular.

In 2009, the latest development in Cemetery Lane received a Sussex Heritage Trust Award.

For more information and eligibility please visit Hastoe Housing.