Living Space Housing branches out to Bedfordshire to deliver 36 new affordable homes

Living Space Housing and affordable housing provider Hightown Housing Association have acquired a 3.6-acre residential site, which lies opposite the historic park and gardens of Moggerhanger Park in Central Bedfordshire.

The site – which is located off Bedford Road (A603) and Park Road – has Detailed Planning Approval for 36 high quality homes, which was recently obtained by Living Space’s sister company Terra Strategic. Work on site is anticipated to commence in October and complete in 2022. 33 of the homes will be available for affordable rent and to buy through Hightown’s shared ownership scheme. Living Space will sell the three remaining four-bedroom executive homes on the open market.

Moggerhanger is a small rural village, where there is a chronic shortage of new homes. The land was previously unused and designated for agricultural uses. The spacious scheme has been created by residential design specialist A2 Urbanism & Architecture and the layout consists of 10 two-bedroom homes, 19 three-bedroom designs, and seven four-bedroom executive homes. An area of public open space has been incorporated into the design for the scheme to encourage safe family play. All homes will also have private rear gardens and a generous provision of soft landscaping to fore gardens.

Steve Davies, Managing Director of Living Space Housing said: “We are delighted to have secured this fantastic development site, which will provide much-needed affordable rural homes. With planning permission secured, we can commence the enabling works, which will immediately be followed by the construction period. The design, planning and construction of this development all reflects the enviable setting, close to Moggerhanger Park.  

“This scheme represents the first deal that we have struck with Hightown Housing Association and it is the first development we are undertaking outside of the Midlands region. Having grown at such a rapid pace over the past 12 months, we are delighted to be expanding our reach and delivering quality affordable homes in Bedfordshire.”

The new development will be constructed with a mixture of red brick and render. 34 of the homes will be two-storey, with two being single-storey dwellings to reflect the large number of single-storey properties found in the village.

Alison Laing, Development Department Head of Projects for Hightown Housing Association said: “We are constantly on the look out to find opportunities in areas that lack affordable housing. Being a rural community, Moggerhanger has seen very little development for many years. Meanwhile, the demand for housing in Central Bedfordshire has never been higher. We are delighted to be working with Living Space on this scheme, as it will enable us to help those who are keen to live in this area.

“Hightown’s 33 houses in Moggerhanger will be offered for affordable rent and shared ownership – so that depending on the needs of the family or individual, there will be a suitable and affordable option for them.”

Living Space is a development-led residential planning, design and construction services solution for Registered Providers, PRS Funds, the NHS, Universities and Defence Estates, which provides an end-to-end service, enabling more homes to be delivered with greater efficiency. Having launched to the market in 2019, it already has a total of 406 residential plots under control, representing a combined construction value in excess of £61million.

Living Space is currently on site delivering affordable homes in Kidderminster, Telford and Cradley, which is on the outskirts of Malvern. In addition to this new development in Moggerhanger, further schemes are coming online in Herefordshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire and Warwickshire.

Moggerhanger is situated on the A603, two miles from the A1 at Sandy. It is just four miles from the A421 Bedford bypass and 20 minutes from the M1. The village is easily accessible from London, Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Birmingham and Oxford.