July 2014  Affordable Homes start -  marked a very special day. As promised builders, Brookvale Homes started work on ‘our’ affordable homes. Led by contracts manager Tim Barnes the Thane Farm field was carefully measured and paced out with marker posts outlining the boundaries and where key features will spring up. Marshwood’s District Councillor, Mike Robinson looked back to when it all started: “After 10 years of discussions plans and proposals, I am delighted that we have started to build these homes. It is fantastic that we have now made the giant stride forward. I now look forward to getting these homes up and occupied.” Key Marshwood moments in the history of affordable homes included: acceptance of Mike’s ideas in the Parish Plan, starting a steering committee to examine funding options, public meetings where these options where put to residents, listing more applicants than homes, creation of a Community Land Trust with membership open to supporters, forceful leadership of a team led by chairman David Hitchcock, working relationship with Hastoe Housing, land being found on acceptable terms, funding from the Housing and Communities Agency.

As elsewhere, not all agreed with the project and, as elsewhere, dissenters opposed decisions so delayed the homes, but now the work has been started, villagers’ pleasure in supporting the less fortunate is palpable.

With the grass and topsoil stripped away, some going to become gardens being left nearby, some dispersed into the local fields, some being stored, inquisitive Marshwood residents can see where the homes are going to be erected.

As you read this, trenches following the outline of each of the homes should be begun to be dug and after the new access road is cleared and laid down, these should be ready for concrete to be poured to make the foundations.

A good sign was the placing of the noticeboard telling us all what, who how and when, and for some it is 42 weeks and counting

David Hitchcock Chairman Marshwood Community Land Trust