New affordable homes
Published: 21 November 2025
Westbourne celebrates first purpose built community-led affordable housing scheme in Chichester District
Congratulations to Westbourne Community Trust who officially opened the 12 new affordable homes - a ground-breaking £3.6m community-led project - on Friday 21 November 2025 at the newly named Hitchcock Close off Mill Road in Westbourne. A special celebration was held with special guests Jess Brown Fuller MP and Clare Apel, Chair of Chichester District Council.
The new homes are only for those with a connection to the village and will always be kept as social rent homes at roughly 55% of market rent levels.
The Trust received support from Westbourne Parish Council, Chichester District Council, South Downs National Park Authority, The St Mary's Hospital Trust and Homes England.
It's a fantastic achievement for the Parish. Well done to all involved and happy new homes to the new tenants.
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Westbourne Community Trust is a voluntary group of residents who first came together over seven years ago with a determination to tackle the lack of affordable homes in the village. It is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to provide homes for local people, whilst also delivering community projects.
Frank Campbell, Chair of the Trust, said: "As in many areas across the south of England, the cost of buying or renting a home on the open market in Westbourne is out of reach for many young people or families. Finding a home that you can afford in the place where you were raised is becoming impossible for many people.
"That's why we were confident that demand existed and when we opened the application process, we received 35 applications for the 12 homes. After a thorough assessment, we selected the tenants and we had some very difficult decisions to make. Unfortunately, there are some who continue to be in need of an affordable home."
The feedback from tenants and the wider community has been very positive in terms of the internal quality and the external appearance of the new homes.
One of the tenants, Holly, said: "I feel incredibly grateful to be selected for a tenancy. I fall into the category of earning too much for government housing help, but too little to afford private housing in the area. This will give me my first opportunity to live on my own, somewhere affordable and with security while remaining in the area I grew up in."
Westbourne is the first community land trust in the Chichester District to build its own homes. It is named after Richard Hitchcock who was a founding trustee and sadly passed away in August 2024 - he would be very proud of the development and its achievements and naming the new road after him is a fitting tribute.
The development includes six one-bed homes, four two-bed homes and two three-bed homes. In addition to providing 12 homes, the Trust has upgraded the adjoining park with new play equipment and facilities. It has also provided a new storage building for the benefit of the Parish Council and Westbourne Allotment Association.