The £1m project by Sovereign Housing Association to provide a proper shop and secure Post Office, plus four new affordable homes has been slightly amended following massive interest at a local consultation session. A fifth apartment will be sold on the open market to allow villagers to rent the shop for next to nothing.

Plans were lodged with West Berkshire Council on December 21, and Sovereign Projects Director Heather Bowman said: “Although we don’t wish to pre-judge the outcome, this project highlights Sovereign’s approach to investment in neighbourhoods. There are clear benefits to helping make the village more sustainable, not just for our residents, but for the wider community.”

Bradfield’s original village store was closed in 2004 and converted into a house, but more than 500 campaigners chipped in to raise £80,000 for a share in a store run from a portacabin next to the Sovereign site, which opened in 2005.

This temporary arrangement comes to an end in 2010, but if permission is granted, Sovereign would take around 10 months to complete the project, handing over the new store to the Bradfield Southend Village Store Management Committee in 2009.

The four affordable apartments will be sold on a part-buy part-rent basis, preferably to those with local connections, subject to council allocation rules. More details will follow should permission to build be granted.

Published 18 January 2008
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