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It has been a slow and steady journey to get to this point. 2020 and 2021 were full of challenges and new learning, and we're delighted to have got this far:
2017 March – The idea is conceived at the SDCE Board’s Visioning Day. Work goes on in the background to develop the idea and secure funding. 2018 January – We were awarded a £9000 grant through the My Community; Community Led Housing Scheme to enable us to undertake feasibility work into a potential development site on the edge of Ivybridge. March – Exclusivity agreement with landowners signed. Feb - We held a community engagement event to introduce the idea of SDCE considering a housing project, which was attended by over 40 people. The feedback was all very positive and we received 42 responses to an online survey regarding local housing needs and design. 2019 July - Option agreement with the landowners signed. August - First briefing meeting with the nearest neighbours. August – Sustainable Design Collective appointed for pre-application stage, subject to receiving funding. 2020 January 2020 - Homes England grant of £87k awarded to take us to planning submission. March 2020 – Planning pre-app submitted to South Hams District Council. May 2020 – First ecological surveys start on site. June 2020 - Pre-planning response received from SHDC July-August 2020 – Community consultation runs; including webinar, online survey, and local press articles. SDCE board meet to discuss responses and accept suggestions. Autumn 2020 - Design team work up plans, lots of surveys take place on site, drainage is complex on the sloping site. Autumn 2020 - Applied to the Rural Community Energy Fund, and were successful. Granted £39k for a techno-economic feasibility study to model the energy systems on the site. December 2020 - Full planning application submitted to SHDC! 2021 January 2021 – The application was been validated and open for comments March 2021 - SHDC missed the planning determination date and changed our planning officer several times. April 2021 - The results of the techno-economic study were in and still somewhat inconclusive. The low heat demand on the site ruled out the need for a district heating system, and even made individual air source heat pumps seem a bit unnecessary. Sadly a micro-grid and batteries would also still be a costly option. Spring/Summer 2021 - The focus of the project shifts slightly as more evidence of the local housing crisis appears and the need for local social rented homes grows. Summer 2021 - Gradually planning consultee responses filtered in, overwhelming majority support from the local community. And some confusing responses from the planning consultees, such as 'it looks too urban' alongside 'make it look more less like a lane and more like a typical road and curb'. Whilst we grappled with how to deal with these planning comments, increased pressure on our other projects, and how best to proceed with a zero carbon energy system, we knew we needed more experience and support to make this happen for our community. Summer 2021 - We started working with Steve Watson from Middlemarch Community Led Housing, he was an incredible addition to the team and got us back on track. Summer 2021 - After much deliberation SDCE decided that we did not want to become a Registered Provider, and we began to interview several housing associations. In the UK social rented homes can only be delivered by a Registered Provider, our best option was to form a partnership with a suitable HA Autumn 2021 - We began formally working with Teign Housing to develop the project as a financially viable solution to the housing crisis in our area. October 2021 - We secured a second grant from the Community Housing Fund to enable us to finish the additional surveys which had been required by SHDC and DCC and revise the site plan accordingly. Winter 2021 - Our architect at Sustainable Design Collective co-ordinated the project and brought together the design team. 2022 Early 2022 - Further drainage and geo surveys take place. We talk about drainage over and over and over! Spring 2022 - Several of the team catch Covid and work is delayed, which meant we had to apply for an extension to our grant funding. April 2022 - New drawings are almost complete and the planning application will be resubmitted in late April. Next... |
