Housing and sustainable development
We recognise that any proposals about building houses in the village will be, understandably, a sensitive subject. The logic behind our proposal to gain support for a small mixed development to provide affordable housing is given below. We intend to actively encourage debate in the village on this subject in the coming months.
What you said:
House prices both to buy and to rent in Longparish are extremely high and people who have strong village connections are being forced to leave the village through lack of affordable housing. This means in particular that young people who want to stay in the village when they leave home, can't afford to.
There is a disproportionate number of large family homes in Longparish whilst we do not have enough small family/starter homes or accommodation for young, single people in the village. People who wish to trade down after their family has left home also have difficulty finding a suitable smaller property.
It is important that we have a balanced community in terms of age (children, young people through to the elderly) and socio-economic background. We do not want Longparish to become a dormitory village purely for wealthy commuters, nor for it to become dominated by houses used only at weekends.
There is widespread support for a Housing Needs Survey to be conducted, but whatever results, the rural nature and beauty of the village and its open spaces should be protected as should the shop, school, playgroup and pubs which you very much value.