We have completed Montgomerie Rise, a new development of 27 affordable homes in Barton-on-Sea, and officially handed over the scheme to our housing association partner VIVID. The completion marks the successful transformation of the former NHS Becton Centre into much-needed affordable housing in The New Forest and the culmination of our first partnership with the not-for-profit housing association.
Located on The Fairway, Montgomerie Rise comprises 27 two-bedroom apartments built on a previously vacant brownfield site. Delivered as part of AJC’s ‘500 in 5’ mission to provide 500 affordable homes across the Wessex region within five years, the development incorporates air-source heat pumps, EV charging, Biodiversity Net Gain measures, landscaped communal gardens and cycle storage to create energy-efficient homes in a sustainable coastal setting.
AJC Group acquired the former Becton Centre site and secured planning permission for its redevelopment before partnering with VIVID to deliver the affordable housing scheme. Construction began in 2025, and the completed development has now been handed over to the VIVID teams.
The name Montgomerie Rise was chosen by local schoolchildren following a community competition involving New Milton Infant School and New Milton Junior School, recognising the area’s historical links to Roger de Montgomerie while reflecting the development’s connection with the local community.
David Cracklen, Director at AJC Group, said: “Developments like Montgomerie Rise don’t happen overnight. They are the result of years of hard work. Bringing forward brownfield regeneration projects takes patience, commitment and a willingness to work closely with local stakeholders to refine proposals and create the right development for the area.
“To now see this former vacant site transformed into much-needed homes is incredibly rewarding, and a real testament to the dedication of everyone involved. Completing our first project with VIVID makes the achievement even more special, and we’re proud to have established what we hope will be a long and successful partnership.”
Sunita Aujla, Land and New Business Director at VIVID, said: “Every new home we build has the potential to change someone’s future, so it’s fantastic to see Montgomerie Rise complete. This development has transformed a vacant site into much-needed homes and will give local people a safe, secure place to call home and make their own. We’re proud to have worked with AJC to bring this scheme to life and look forward to seeing a thriving community grow here in the years ahead.”
Montgomerie Rise is one of several affordable housing developments we are delivering across the region. New affordable homes are currently underway as part of regeneration projects in Bournemouth town centre and Boscombe, alongside developments in Dorchester and Sturminster Newton, with further schemes progressing through planning across the South.
To learn more about our portfolio, click here.