Waverley Borough Council has completed an ambitious £10 million programme to provide 26 high-quality, energy-efficient affordable homes across five sites in Chiddingfold.
The handover of the final 11 homes at Pathfield Close marks the completion of the programme, which has transformed small, underused sites at Turners Mead, Pathfield, Queen’s Mead and Hartsgrove.
The new homes are already attracting strong interest. All five homes at Pathfield B have been let, while the six Pathfield A properties are due to be let in the coming weeks.
Together, the five developments provide a mix of one, two and three-bedroom houses and flats for affordable rent and shared ownership, helping people with local connections remain close to their families, workplaces and support networks.
The latest phase includes six homes at Pathfield A, two of which are available for shared ownership, and five homes at Pathfield B: three two-bedroom houses, a one-bedroom flat and a two-bedroom flat. Both flats have their own private rear gardens.
Like the other homes delivered through the programme, the Pathfield properties provide spacious, well-fitted accommodation and incorporate modern energy-saving technology. Features include air source heat pumps, rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, electric vehicle charging points, fitted kitchens and private off-street parking.
The project has also provided 19 additional parking spaces for existing council tenants at Pathfield Close, helping to ease local parking pressures and deliver a wider benefit for the community.
Councillor Janet Crowe, Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Delivery), said:
“The handover of these final homes is a proud moment for everyone involved and marks the successful completion of an important investment in Chiddingfold.
“Providing decent and affordable homes is one of Waverley Borough Council’s key priorities. By making thoughtful use of five small, underused sites, we have delivered 26 genuinely affordable, energy-efficient homes while respecting the individual character of the village.
“These homes will give people with local connections more opportunities to build their lives in the community. I would like to thank our housing delivery team, Feltham Construction, Homes England and all our other partners for helping us reach this important milestone.”
The Mayor of Waverley, Councillor David Munro, said:
“It was a pleasure to visit Pathfield and see the quality of these new homes for myself.
“Completing all 26 homes is a wonderful achievement that will make a lasting difference to Chiddingfold. These are warm, comfortable and thoughtfully designed homes that residents can be proud to call their own.
“I would also like to thank the local community for its patience while this programme has been delivered.”
The programme was delivered in partnership with Feltham Construction and supported by £631,617 of grant funding from Homes England. Representatives from Homes England joined the council, contractors and partners to mark the completion of the final Pathfield homes.
Shahi Islam, Director of Affordable Housing Grants at Homes England, added:
“The completion of these 26 affordable homes in Chiddingfold demonstrates the value of partnership working in delivering meet local housing needs. Through strong partnership working, we are delivering high-quality affordable homes at pace, helping more people access safe, secure and affordable housing"
Guy Thomas, Construction Manager at Feltham Construction, said:
“We have been very pleased to work with Waverley Borough Council and its partners and are delighted to hand over the final properties in this programme of 26 new homes.
“Providing 19 additional parking spaces for existing council tenants at Pathfield Close has been another important part of the project, allowing us to deliver an added benefit for the community.
“We would particularly like to thank local residents for their patience during the construction work, as well as the council and its consultants, including BPG of Dorking, for the excellent working relationship throughout the programme.”
The five Chiddingfold developments demonstrate how smaller, carefully designed schemes can collectively make a significant contribution to meeting local housing needs, while regenerating underused land and protecting the surrounding countryside.
ENDS