Hightown Praetorian and Churches says there are thousands of people who need affordable homes and building more could boost business and public services in the borough.

Hemel Hempstead has been earmarked as a growth area with the possibility of 18,000 new homes by 2031.

In particular land between the town and the M1 has been identified as having the potential for 6,000 homes.

David Bogle, Hightown's chief executive, admitted there was a tension between new houses and conserving the countryside.

But he said: "If you go up to the land between Hemel Hempstead and the M1 it's not land worth dying in a ditch for.

"Any new housing is built near to someone else. It's about the bigger picture. How much building do we need in the country? The general answer is more and it has to go somewhere.

"One could argue more housing could help Hemel Hempstead become a stronger town, keep industry coming to the town and keep services."

The housing association focuses on people who earn around £15,000 or less a year, who are not eligible for council housing but cannot afford to buy.

There is an application process and locally established key workers – for example teachers, nurses and police – tend to get priority.
Hightown charges around £80 a week for a two-bed flat, compared with a market rate of £180.

An alternative option is shared ownership, where for example the househunter gets a mortgage of £90,000 to buy half of a £180,000 property.

They then pay a rent of 2.75 per cent to Hightown on the other half of the purchase price.

Mr Bogle said: "These days there are lots of people on an average wage which Hemel Hempstead needs to run its shops, schools and police.

"Council housing is in huge demand. Rented housing is in huge demand. Where are they going to live?

"They won't be housed by the council and they can't afford to buy.

"There is not enough housing to go round in Hemel Hempstead – that's the problem."

Hightown has new schemes at Wood Lane End, Grover Close and Hartcroft Close and will also have homes in the former Kodak tower development.

Mr Bogle says towns benefit from a mix of normal buyers and those who need affordable housing.

"If you're going to build a good society you need a good mix of people," he said.

"You need people to clean the streets, plumbers, carpenters, teachers and police.

"All those kinds of people are our tenants of shared ownership.
"If Hemel Hempstead was all rich people it wouldn't be a very socially coherent place."

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