The red carpet was out at the West Hanningfield affordable housing scheme, Pandan Close, for a very important visitor when HRH the Prince of Wales visited the development on Tuesday 16 December.

The involvement of RCCE goes back to 2005 when a housing needs survey was carried out by the Rural Housing Enabler to identify the number, size and tenure of homes required. Essex & Suffolk Water who owned the land worked with Hastoe Housing Association to bring the scheme forward and provide the much needed homes. Twelve affordable houses were built including  bungalows and flats with a mix of rented & shared ownership properties all of which will remain affordable in perpetuity giving local people priority as and when they become available in the future. 

The Prince was welcomed into the home of residents, Mr & Mrs Margetts, who have lived there since it was completed in 2011. To mark the occasion Prince Charles planted a D’Arcy spice apple tree and spent time chatting to guests who included our own Executive Director, Nick Shuttleworth, trustee Simon Lyster and Rural Housing Enabler, Moira Groborz. 

Thanks to Hastoe Housing Association for permission to use the photographs.