Purpose

Saxon Weald approached Horsham District
Council in the summer of 2024 requesting funding of £72,740
to assist in retrofitting a 4-bed parlour property to enable
letting as social rented housing to avoid disposal. The funding was
approved in August 2024. Saxon Weald have now approached the
Council again with information that the detailed survey revealed
considerable structural works required within the property.
 
Saxon Weald is asking for an additional
£73,473 to
bring this project forward taking the total amount of section 106
spend up to £146,213.
 
The property has been void for over two years
due to disrepair and maintenance issues. Saxon Weald will use the
funding to carry out extensive upgrades to the property, including
major structural repairs, installing new heating, full electrical
rewiring and a replacement kitchen.
 
There are currently 23 households on the
Council’s Housing Register with a 4-bed need wanting to live
in Partridge Green / West Grinstead, out of 88 households in the
whole district with a 4-bed need.  Of
those 23 households, some have been waiting to be rehoused since
2018 (7 years). The Housing Team has only received 5x 4-bed
properties for nomination since January 2025 and there are no 4-bed
homes in the current affordable housing development programme.
 
If the Council were not to assist with funding
the property will be sold on the private market and be lost as a
social rented unit. With an already limited number of properties of
this size available it is important that the Council works with its
partners to retain such units within the affordable housing stock
for the district.
 
It should be noted that 4 Jolesfield is a particularly large home, with three
double bedrooms, a single bedroom and a downstairs parlour that
could be used as a bedroom or adapted at a later date for disabled
use. Properties of this size are very scarce within social housing
stock.
 
The Council has agreed with Saxon Weald that
Horsham District Council will receive full nomination rights for
this property.
 

Content

To approve a further allocation of £73,
473 of additional Section 106 receipts to secure the retrofitting
of 4 Jolesfield, Partridge Green, for
the property to remain as affordable housing, taking the total
amount of Section 106 spend up to £146,213 on this
project.

Reasons for the decision

To prevent disposal of and
retain a larger family home to be allocated and occupied by a
family on the Council’s Housing Register.

Alternative options considered

If the Council did not provide
the funding the property will be disposed of on the private market
and be lost as an affordable rented unit.
 
If the Council purchased the property on the
open market the cost of purchase and additional works required
would not be viable.