Members of New Forest District Council (NFDC) have visited a new affordable housing development in Ashurst, where work is underway to deliver 62 much-needed homes within the boundaries of the New Forest National Park – one of the least affordable national parks in the UK.
The Whartons Lane development is being delivered by VIVID, one of the south’s largest housing providers, in partnership with regional housebuilder Foreman Homes, and supported by Homes England funding.
The site has long been earmarked for residential development under the council’s Local Plan, which sets out priorities for future growth in the area.
The scheme will provide a mix of 40 affordable homes for social rent and 22 for shared ownership, helping to tackle affordability pressures in a district where average house prices remain well above local earnings.
SUSTAINABLE HOUSING
In line with council policy, 31 homes will be prioritised for residents with a local connection, ensuring that those with family or work ties to the area benefit first.
Councillors Steve Davies (Housing and Homelessness), Derek Tipp (Planning), and Joe Reilly (Ashurst, Bramshaw, Copythorne and Netley Marsh) were given a tour of the site last week to view progress and meet the teams behind the scheme.
The project forms part of a broader strategic partnership between VIVID and Foreman Homes to increase the supply of high-quality, sustainable housing across Hampshire and the wider South Coast.
HELPING LOCALS
VIVID currently has several schemes under construction in the New Forest, including more than 100 new homes in Fordingbridge and 27 in Barton on Sea, reflecting a growing pipeline of affordable housing across the region.
Construction Director Karl Handscombe of Foreman Homes said the collaboration with VIVID was “helping deliver homes that people can be proud of,” while Tristan Samuels, Group Development and New Business Director at VIVID, said the Ashurst project “will help local people stay close to the communities they know and love.”
The first homes at Whartons Lane are expected to complete by December 2025, with full completion scheduled for December 2026, subject to progress.
Main picture left to right: Karl Handscombe, Construction Director, Foreman Homes; Councillor Derek Tipp, Councillor Joe Reilly and Councillor Steve Davies, New Forest District Council; Tristan Samuels, Group Development and New Business Director, VIVID
