E G Carter & Co Ltd and The Guinness Partnership has begun the development of 13 affordable homes in Pilton, on land donated by Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis. The scheme, which is being constructed by E G Carter & Co Ltd, will use locally sourced natural stone obtained and prepared from Mr Eavis’s quarry. This is the second tract of land Mr Eavis has donated for affordable housing, with the first one owned and managed by Hastoe Housing Association.
The properties, a mixture of one, two and three bedroom homes, will be offered to local people. The latest Housing Needs Survey demonstrated that up to 18 households around Pilton needed somewhere affordable to live, so the new properties will be provided for people with strong local connections, with some being able to move back closer to their families and others being able to remain in the area.
The homes will enjoy a high quality of building specification and materials to ensure energy efficiency and reduce running costs. They will have open plan ground floors with a central log burning stove to supplement the heating. Wood for the stove will be gifted by Michael Eavis.
Funding for the development has come from the Homes and Communities Agency, Mendip District Council and The Guinness Partnership.
Michael Eavis said, ‘’This is one of the best things I have done and the homes will be part of my legacy that will still be standing in 1,000 years' time."
Jeff Astle, Director of New Business at Guinness, said: “We are delighted to be working with Michael Eavis on this project,and are really grateful to him for donating the land upon which the new homes are being built. This is a fantastic example of how The Guinness Partnership can use its investment capacity to work with land owners to provide much-needed affordable homes.”
The site will be completed by the end of 2017.