Press Releases
- Old Village New Life -
18 July 2011
Peter Lilley MP joined the villagers of Cockernhoenear Luton on Friday (15 July) at an event to celebrate the completion of a five year regeneration project that has brought a new lease of life to the community.
Twenty-four cold, pre-fabricated concrete houses have been replaced with spacious, warm homes, a village community garden and a hall where anything from ruby wedding anniversaries to Zumba classes take place.
Speaking in the hall, Mr Lilley said “More housing is needed, but the Localism Agenda means the immediate community has more input to the decisions being made as they have the local knowledge and understand the issues that need to be overcome. Cockernhoe is a perfect example of localism at work.”
Kevin Thompson, chief executive of North Hertfordshire Homes who delivered the regeneration project said “On average, a mortgage for a rural dweller will be ten times their annual salary – compared with eight for an urban dweller. Affordable rural housing can help to keep villagers at home.”
Villager Victoria Williams agrees, “Five generations of my family have grown up in Cockernhoe –I didn’t want to move away.” The new homes were prioritised for the local community and Miss Williams has been able to buy her home on a shared-ownership basis with North Hertfordshire Homes. She said “I had been on the social housing list for a few years. In this financial climate no-one can get a mortgage, but this is a much easier way of owning your own home.”
Parish Council Clerk, Emma Payne said “A new breath of life has been given to a rural village that has been made possible by the joint support of the local community, the district council and the housing provider.”
The event was a fitting end to the National Housing Federation’s Rural Housing Week which aimed to raise awareness of the value of affordable housing for keeping local communities and villages alive.
