Places for People welcomes affordable homes at second phase of Lower Herne Village

Delivered by independent housebuilder Dandara, this latest phase will see a total of 104 much-needed affordable homes provided for the local community, including 64 shared ownership and 40 affordable rent.

Reinforcing PfP’s continued commitment to increasing the supply of affordable homes across the South East, the overall development is a Joint Venture (JV) between PfP and Vistry to deliver circa 800 homes over 9-10 years, with over 50% affordable.

As part of a long-standing commitment to creating places where people can thrive, PfP has also been investing in the local community. Since April 2025, PfP’s JV with Vistry, has committed almost £25, in social value initiatives, supporting projects that strengthen wellbeing, skills and community resilience in Herne Bay – reflecting its approach to delivering not just homes, but lasting positive impact for local people.

This includes:

• £10,000 to Maya CIC to support the local food bank
• £9,262 to Age UK Herne Bay for ‘Shed Quarters’ (Men’s Shed), a space helping older men build skills and social connections
• Funding for local events such as the Herne Bay Festival and Christmas lights

The Men’s Shed initiative alone has already supported 40 older men, delivering 104 sessions and 97 training opportunities, with 14 participants progressing into volunteering roles. Meanwhile, PfP’s support helped the Herne Bay Festival reach around 10,000 attendees, providing largely free events that promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion.

PfP has also delivered volunteering initiatives and engaged with local schools to support young people with careers advice and skills development, helping to create lasting local impact beyond the homes themselves.

Sammie Steele, Managing Director for Greater London, at PfP said: “Handing over the first homes at this fully affordable scheme at Lower Herne is a proud moment and an important step in delivering more affordable housing for the area. Through our partnership with Dandara on this latest phase, we are not only creating high-quality homes but investing in the long-term success of the Community.

“At PfP, we are committed to building thriving Communities and that means delivering homes people can afford, while also supporting local initiatives that boost wellbeing, skills and opportunities. Lower Herne is just one great example of how we’re bringing this to life.”

Offering a diverse range of homes, the development will deliver two, three and four-bedroom houses, designed to meet a variety of housing needs. Reflecting a strong focus on sustainability and ESG principles, the shared ownership properties include electric vehicle charging points on selected bays to support low-carbon living and helping residents transition to more energy-efficient, future-ready homes.

Dandara, as the development partner and housebuilder, is delivering the homes with a focus on quality and sustainability, ensuring residents benefit from thoughtfully designed, energy-efficient properties.

Russell Turner, Partnership Director at Dandara added: “This development is a great example of what can be achieved when social enterprises and private housebuilders come together to deliver much-needed homes for local people. We are pleased that Places for People entrusted us with this project, which will help meet the demand for affordable housing in the area."

As work continues, the Lower Herne development will play a key role in addressing local housing need, providing a mix of tenure options to help people step onto the housing ladder or access secure, affordable rented homes.

PfP remains committed to working with partners to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes across the UK, while continuing to invest in Communities and creating places where people can thrive.