Definition of Eastington
Throughout, ECLT defines “Eastington” as the Traditional Hamlets i.e. Alkerton plus the dozen rural hamlets and not including Great Oldbury. Great Oldbury is an urban development which is designed to either be an urban extension of Stonehouse or a parish/town in it’s own right.
Section 106 Agreement is the key
As part of the planning permission, a document is drawn up called a ‘section 106 agreement’. This acts a bit like a covenant on the land, there is one for each project. It is signed by Stroud DC, ECLT and our Housing Association partner and applies in perpetuity.
For Fullers Close, this will say that the dwellings are to be available for affordable rent only and that they should always be offered first to people on the Homeseeker Plus register who have a Local Connection, defined as:-
First Priority
- Current Resident of Eastington Parish (3 out of the last 5 years qualification)
- Person with local family connections, living elsewhere, wishing to return to Eastington (parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren or siblings)
- Person working in the parish wanting to live nearer their work (12 month qualification).
Second Priority
- Resident in Eastington for a minimum of 6 months
- Person working in the parish wanting to live nearer their work (6 month qualification).
If more than one ‘local’ person wants a particular house, the person with the greatest need as defined on the Register will be chosen (Gold, Silver or Bronze category of need). If two or more people have the same category, the person who has been on Homeseeker longest will be chosen.
Third Priority
If no-one with an Eastington Local Connection wants a vacant home, it will be offered applicants with a local connection to one of our six neighbouring rural parishes (e.g. Whitminster, Frocester etc) before going on the general Stroud DC vacancy list as the fourth priority. Any homes that are built in our neighbouring parishes exception site schemes will offer Eastington similar privileges.
See Page ‘BASICS – The Homeseekers Register’ for more detail