Rural housing case study: Odiham
Celebrating 12 New Affordable Homes in Odiham Parish
As part of #RuralHousingWeek, we’re proud to look back at this successful community-led housing project – a great example of how local collaboration and community evidence can shape sustainable rural development. In 2015, Action Hampshire carried out a Housing Need Survey in Odiham, which clearly demonstrated a local demand for affordable housing. This evidence played a key role in influencing the Odiham Neighbourhood Plan (2017), which included a commitment to support a new scheme through a rural exception site.
In March 2021 work began on a rural exception site for Odiham Parish.
Completed in May 2023 the development is comprised of 12 new affordable homes, 9 for social rent and 3 for shared ownership, which were prioritised for people who have a local connection to Odiham. A local connection includes people working in the Parish, those with close family in the area, or people who previously lived there but had to move out due to rising housing costs.
Catching up with one of the affordable housing scheme residents.
In February 2025 Kevin Sawers from Action Hampshire had a phone call with Charlotte Pye, one of the affordable housing scheme residents. Below is a summary from their conversation and Charlotte’s story and experiences of getting a new home through the scheme.
‘It’s a really positive thing, a great idea for local communities’
Charlotte has lived in her current home for around 2 years, but prior to this she had a long standing connection to Odiham. Living in the parish for 30 years and working for a company based nearby, her parents also own a local pub in the area. Before moving into this home she was living somewhere that was not suitable and too expensive, then following the birth of her son she moved back in with her parents.
Due to be being able to live with her parents she was on the HDC housing list for a long time during which she was offered one property but it was much further away then was suitable. She was very happy to be allocated a home in the Odiham development.
Charlotte has said the new home has had a great impact on her life, she loves the house, it’s nice and spacious and is also 5 minutes from her son’s school and close to her parents. This has meant she has been able to stay in an area she wanted to live. It’s been a great change and she feels very lucky they have had the opportunity to move in. Due to her local connection she also already knew most of the neighbours. Since moving in, the property has felt like her own home as it was newly built.
Charlotte found the application process really easy and it was a happy surprise for her to be top of the list and feels these sorts of developments should happen more because they keep local people in the community they love.
Our work with housing!
Learn more about the work we do with rural affordable housing by following the link here
Or get in touch to find out more about how we can help you bring about a development of affordable housing for local people. housing@actionhampshire.org
