HOUSING
Affordable Housing
History
The Almshouses in Levington were built in the middle of C17th following a 1636 bequest from Sir Robert Hitcham to provide accommodation for six local people in Levington (3 from Nacton and 3 from Levington).
In the 1960s, with an endowment from Pembroke College, the Almshouses were modernised and altered to provide four dwellings with bathrooms. Grants from bodies such as Suffolk Coastal District Council enabled more renovation work and improvements to kitchen facilities to be carried out in the 1990s.
The Almshouse trust has been registered with the Charity Commission since 1962 and is managed by a board of locally-based Trustees.
Trustees
The Chairman: Rev. G.L. Grant
Secretary: Mrs. L. Overbury Tel: 01473 659712 Email: almshouses@levington.org
Committee: I. Angus (Representing Levington Parish Council), Mrs D. Giles (Representing Nacton Parish Council), Mrs J. Wenham, Mrs H. Weston
Affordable Housing
As in most parts of the Suffolk Coastal District Council area, many properties are unaffordable to many looking for accommodation within our two parishes.
The Parish Council was aware of this, but was also aware that, due to both the lack of suitable facilities within the village (e.g. Shop, adequate bus service etc.) and the small number of residents, it was unlikely that we could provide affordable housing.
Bearing this in mind, we sought and created a partnership with our neighbouring and larger parish of Nacton. The two Parish Councils, together with Suffolk ACRE and the Housing Representative of Suffolk Coastal District Council entered into joint negotiations. (Note: the provision of the existing Almshouses, see above, is also a combined Parish facility.)
In 2005 a questionnaire was distributed to each household to determine the local need. This showed there was a local need for about 6 houses. It was also appropriate for these to be sited within Nacton, as it had available land and more facilities such as a shop, post office and school.
Following presentations by 3 housing associations, it was agreed to work with Hastoe Housing Association and they have now taken on the project of providing 6 affordable houses for those with previous connections in Nacton, Levington and Stratton Hall.
Outline plans are available (Nacton Parish Clerk: Judith Wyndham) showing the exact location and outline design.