Proposed Affordable Rural Housing in Chiddingstone Parish
Some of the English Rural Team
About English Rural
English Rural is a specialist non-profit rural housing association, established in 1991. We only build and manage homes in village locations, principally across the south of England. All the homes we build are community-led and designed to benefit local people. We are also one of the leading national advocates on affordable rural housing issues, with HRH The Princess Royal as our Patron.
Generally speaking, we develop our homes on ‘rural exception sites’. This enables us to ensure they are affordable and secured for local people – forever. Our residents and the local community are at the heart of what we do.
Affordable doesn’t mean poor quality. Our homes are designed and built to high standards, usually using local design features and ensuring that their environmental impact is minimal. We build beautiful homes that villages can be proud of and our homes consistently win awards for design and construction.
To find out more about us and to see our past and current developments please visit: englishrural.org.uk
What Is Proposed?
As our first affordable housing scheme at Bough Beech is nearing completion with handover expected in May 2025, we are progressing the design for our second development on land adjacent to Bassett. This will provide eight affordable rent and three shared ownership homes for people with a local connection to Chiddingstone. The scheme will comprise of the following homes:
2 x one bedroom houses for rent;
5 x two bedroom houses for rent;
3 x two bedroom houses for shared ownership; and
1 x three bedroom house for rent
In addition, there will be 1 x 2 bed bungalow and 3 x 3 bed houses for open market sale, one of which will be a self build plot. These will provide essential cross-subsidy funding to support the delivery of the affordable homes.
Visit the 'Visuals' page to view sketch ideas of what the scheme might look like.
6743A - PL-01 - Location Plan.pdfProposed Location
Please refer to our FAQs to learn how this site was selected.
The site is situated south of the B2027 Tonbridge Road and lies to the west of Chiddingstone Causeway village. The site is a former agricultural field which is currently unused. The northern boundary fronts onto Tonbridge Road with a commercial trading estate located adjacent the eastern site boundary. The commercial site has planning permission for 18 open market sale homes. Running along the southern boundary of the site is the Tonbridge to Redhill Railway. The site slopes gradually from east to west changing approximately 2m in level and is general flat from north to south.
Access will be from a newly formed junction with Tonbridge Road between Bassetts and the commercial trading estate. The proposed site is largely secluded from view by established trees and hedges and by Bassetts. The development site is approximately 1.2 hectares in size and comprises a relatively flat grassed field that is not farmed. There is no public right of way across the field.
Click on the top right symbol to enlarge the map. Zoom in and out using your mouse or the +/- buttons. Hold a mouse button and drag the cursor to explore the area.
Community Benefits
Watch a video on the benefits that affordable rural homes bring to communities. Meet an English Rural resident who explains how she, her family and the local community have benefitted from being able to live in an affordable rural home.
Click on the video to play.
Learn more about our proposals, read FAQs and give us your feedback.
You can also register your interest in living in one of our homes.
The Feedback page is now closed. Your valued comments will be considered by the Parish Council at their next meeting on the 22nd September. Please check back for an update soon. In the Interim please refer to our 'Response to Feedback' page.