Councillor Penny Rivers, Deputy Mayor of Waverley, joined Feltham Construction, fellow councillors and members of the council’s Housing Development team to officially mark the start of work on new affordable housing at Pathfield Close in Chiddingfold.
Waverley Borough Council is working to build a total of 26 new affordable homes in Chiddingfold across five brownfield sites in the village. Development is already well underway at Turners Mead, Hartsgrove and Queens Mead, and now the ground is being prepared at the final two sites in Pathfield Close. The council has demolished 10 older properties and 40 underutilised garages across the five sites, to make way for the 26 new homes.
The new homes will include a variety of property types, such as one and two-bedroom flats and two and three-bedroom houses. The homes will be a mix of social rent, affordable rent, and shared ownership properties to meet local housing need. Feltham Construction Limited is the council's main contractor, with all completions expected by autumn 2025.
Waverley Borough Council has pledged in its corporate strategy to invest in the community by providing high-quality, environmentally friendly, and attractive affordable homes. The council is committed to sustainability and tackling the Climate Emergency, so the new homes will feature a range of eco-friendly measures, including solar PV panels, air source heat pumps, enhanced insulation, double glazing, and electric vehicle charging points. The homes are designed to minimise carbon emissions, helping to reduce both energy costs for tenants and the overall environmental impact of the development.
Each home will be equipped with modern, high-quality interiors and will help address local parking needs by having their own off-street parking on all sites, with the provision of additional on-street parking at Pathfield Close.
Throughout the construction process, the council will prioritise sustainability by promoting high recycling rates and will work with Feltham Construction to maximise the use of low-carbon, sustainable materials, minimising waste and reducing the overall carbon footprint of the project.
Councillor Penny Rivers, Deputy Mayor of Waverley Borough Council said,
"This exciting development marks a significant investment by Waverley Borough Council in the village of Chiddingfold, and reflects our ongoing commitment to providing affordable, sustainable homes for our communities.
"Affordable homes are so important, particularly in our more rural areas where housing is often in limited supply. These homes will help more local people, particularly young families, to be able to stay in the area where they grew up. By ensuring more residents have safe, affordable homes, we can support essential local services and create stronger, more resilient communities."
Picture credit: Horizon Imaging
Pictured from left to right:
Guy Thomas, Construction Manager, Feltham Construction (Main Contractor)
Stuart Ahrens, Contracts Manager: responsible for Chiddingfold sites, Feltham Construction (Main Contractor)
Cllr Janet Crowe, Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Delivery), Waverley Borough Council
Cllr Paul Follows, Leader, Waverley Borough Council
Mark Constable, Housing Development Officer - Project Manager for Chiddingfold scheme, Waverley Borough Council
Cllr Penny Rivers, Mayor of Waverley
Cllr Paul Rivers, Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Operations)
Louisa Blundell, Housing Development Manager, Waverley Borough Council
Cllr David Busby, Ward councillor, Chiddingfold, Waverley Borough Council