Back in 2013, First Step Homes, with support from the parish council, carried out a study of Marshfield’s housing needs. This survey was intended as support for a project to develop mixed housing, both affordable and “market”. A key conclusion of the report was that there was a need for 37 affordable homes in Marshfield. The project met with strong resistance from residents – largely because the location of the proposed development would mean that it would serious degrade a spectacularly beautiful rural panorama. The project did not come to fruition.
The housing study is not perfect – it was prepared by a developer in order to support the planning application for the project and it is out-of-date. However it does contain a lot of useful information. It does clearly show – and quantify – the need for affordable housing in Marshfield.