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Princess Royal opens parish council affordable housing development
Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, opened Kent-based Staple Parish Council's rural housing development on 18 July 2023.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended the official opening of the Bartlett Close development. The development was supported by Staple Parish Council and Dover District Council following a 2015 housing needs survey conducted by the Kent Rural Housing Enabler. The development was completed in January 2022 and comprises six affordable homes, including two one-bedroom bungalows and four two-bedroom houses.
HRH The Princess Royal met with guests, including NALC's chair, Cllr Keith Stevens. HRH The Princess Royal encouraged Cllr Stevens to spread the word about the successful development to other local (parish and town) councils, highlighting what can be accomplished through similar partnerships.
The chair of Staple Parish Council, Cllr Trevor Bartlett, expressed his delight at the project's completion, stating, "In my capacity as chair of Staple Parish Council, I am delighted that HRH The Princess Royal, in her role as Patron of the English Rural Housing Association is here today to officially open Bartlett Close. Affordable housing in rural areas such as Staple is highly sought after, and it is fantastic this worthwhile project is now providing new homes to our residents."