Stoke by Nayland – Parish Council in partnership with Hastoe Housing Association – Redevelopment of old middle school grounds.
In 2023 a development of 8 new energy-efficient, affordable homes was completed in Stoke by Nayland. All 6 of the homes to be rented are prioritised for people with a local connection to the Civil Parish of Stoke by Nayland such as those working in the Parish, those with close family in the area, or those who previously lived there but had to move out because of a lack of affordable housing. 2 of the new homes are for a shared ownership tenure. The site has also retained 2 Suffolk County Council houses that used to be occupied by the school’s caretakers.
The homes are built on land that used to be part of the grounds of the local Middle School and the development has been named Underwood Close after local teacher Margaret Underwood who taught at the school for many years.
The homes have been built to a new sustainable standard developed in 2021 by rural-housing specialist Hastoe Housing Association. All homes have air-source heat pumps and incorporate other key elements such as reduced water consumption, local vernacular design, minimal impact on the environment, Nationally Described Space Standards (NDSS), as well as accessibility and future-proofing features such as discreet charging points for electric vehicles. Other environmental features include bat and bird boxes, a wood pile for insects and a home for hedgehogs
Hastoe invested £1,366,000 and £310,000 was provided through Homes England through the Affordable Housing Programme.
Works began on site in May 2022 and the homes were completed in August 2023.
