Date: 30th June 2021
Subject: Rural Housing
Chair: Kerry Booth Assistant Chief Executive, Rural Services Network
– To download the Agenda for this seminar click here
– To view the welcome message from the RSN click here
– To download the Learning Outcomes from this seminar click here
– To download the zoom chat associated with this seminar click here
– To view the Attendance and Apologies for this seminar click here
Speakers:
-
Matthew Dodd, Senior Affordable Housing Strategy Manager – Rural and Community Led, Homes England
“Homes England and the Delivery of Affordable Rural Housing”
– Download the presentation here
-
Mary Ridgway, Housing Enabling Officer, Teignbridge District Council
“Delivery through Partnership – Rural Affordable Housing in Denbury”
– Download the presentation here
-
Martin Collett, Chief Executive, English Rural Housing Association
“Affordable Rural Homes – More Than Bricks”
– Download the presentation here
Learning Outcomes:
Examples of Good Practice/Reports/Information
- Award winning Higher Shippen development in Cheriton Bishop.
- Hutton Rudby Affordable Housing Scheme
- Shropshire Council’s Single plot exception site policy delivering 25-30 new homes a year.
- South Hams Discounted Properties Register
Key Learning Points:
Homes England and the Delivery of Affordable Rural Housing
- Rural and community-led housing focus has increased, and Homes England has encouraged the government to look at these areas.
- Homes England is the Government’s housing delivery partner. Need a resilient and diverse housing market and the plan is to build one million homes in this Parliament.
- Homes England Strategic Plan 2018-2023 sets out the vision to respond to the long-term housing challenges.
- The Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026 is the newest investment programme with £7.39 bn available from April 2021 with a mixture of homes for rent and different routes into home ownership.
- Capital Funding Guide also includes Right to Shared Ownership.
- New national model for Shared Ownership – Policy Overview – (see Technical Consultation).
- First explicit rural target – minimum 10% of homes to be delivered in rural areas and in settlements with a population of 3,000 or less. Homes England figures show they have built between 8.5% and 13%. According to a recent Guardian newspaper, 17% of the population lives in rural areas. Important to increase supply of affordable housing to keep communities thriving.
- Total investment in rural homes (2019/20) is £67M. Lots of rural areas eligible for social rent and the South has been the predominant place for delivery of affordable homes.
- Co-ordinated multi-agency response: land & planning; financing and skills & capacity.
- Case Studies – small schemes of different sizes. Choice of different homes, using local firms. See examples of good practice.
- Government looking at the S106 and Exception sites levels. MCHLG needs to engage with rural areas and the First Homes policy and are aware that the definition does not cover some areas.
- Push for Home Ownership from the Secretary of State – government policy
Delivery through Partnership – Rural Affordable Housing in Denbury
- Development on an exception site of 10 affordable homes in a village near Newton Abbot. Took 6 years to complete with many issues to overcome.
- A number of Partners committed to the project but also need a team champion to keep the process going.
- Engagement with the community is key. Need to listen and respond to concerns and understand the housing need. A community led approach kept the project going. Devon Communities Together were trusted and independent and supported the Parish Council.
- Landowner is part of the relationship and often live within the community.
- Registered Provider – Willow Tree Housing Partnership retention of local skilled workforce and project management.
- The Local Authority acts as the “middle-man” unlocking problems internally eg planning, interpret LA policy etc.
- Local Builders who resurfaced local car park for community.
- Moving Forward and lesson learnt to improve the process: Teignbridge District Council Housing Strategy 2021-2026 “More than bricks and mortar”
- Need to show that you are genuinely responding.
- South West Housing Association are close to their tenants and showed the community how they would support and give people a voice.
- Need a mix of ages and need to keep young people in communities.
- Sometimes there are difficult conversations and sometimes it doesn’t work.
Affordable Rural Homes – More Than Bricks
- English Rural Housing Association (ERHA) is based in South England. Working in partnership with rural communities to have small affordable schemes.
- Rural homelessness not looked at. Rough sleeping in Cornwall risen by 21% but not gone down as it has in urban areas.
- 2019 survey on employment status found that there were high levels of employment in rural areas but that many of the jobs were part-time or were in self-employment.
- For almost 60% of those surveyed their average household income was less than £20K
- 58% of households receive no benefits towards the cost of their rent due to high levels of employment.
- Number of households experiencing long term ill-health is a growing trend and shows the changes in demography i.e., ageing population. Important to plan for this challenge and the importance of retaining young people in the community to offer support.
- Smaller numbers in households is another growing trend.
- Heating/Energy efficiency of homes is an issue with many households not on mains gas. New homes are more efficient and starting to look at retrofits with the aim of getting 90% to EPC C by 2025.
- Lockdown has shown the vital work of the “unskilled” workforce and they make up just over 32% of the working-age population in rural areas. Housing costs are often higher in rural areas compared to nearby urban areas and the wages are lower.
- Joint research by RSN, CPRE and ERHA into economic and fiscal case for investing in rural affordable housing undertaken by Pragmatix. Summary and Full report available on the link above.
- Insecurity of employment has meant that some are pushed into home ownership at low level but with huge responsibilities.
- #CommunityisWhy on Twitter
Any Other Key Outcomes from the Seminar
Affordable housing is at the heart of all the issues discussed. Need policies that are right for rural areas and not bolt-ons for urban centric policies that have unintended consequences. Need a mixture of tenures for affordable housing to rent as well as to buy.
RSN’s Revitalising Rural Campaign Specific Policy Asks of the Government is for fairer distribution of national resources to rural areas and more nuanced national policies. There are 14 Chapters in the campaign; and one looks at Availability of Rural Affordable Housing and another at Rural Planning.
As new Government strategies are announced, RSN puts them through a “Rural Lens Review” which adds depth and texture to the Policy Asks. A fresh crosscut of the Revitalising document being worked on will look in more depth at younger and older people, working age families and businesses (includes agri.). It will also look at the impact of various issues on these groups of people and develop case studies (personal experiences) rather than dry policy discussions.
Jo Lavis, Housing Specialist – Briefing Note: Rural Implications of the Government’s response to Changes to the Planning System and the new Shared Ownership model
RSN Spotlight on Rural Housing – July 2021 in partnership with the Rural Housing Alliance. A quarterly bulletin highlighting current rural housing issues and opportunities.
Rural Housing Alliance launched the Parish Guide to Affordable Rural Housing in July 2021 working in partnership with RSN and National Housing Federation (NHF).
Analysis and Commentary pieces for Rural Services Network by Jessica Sellick, Researcher at Rose Regeneration: Finding a place to call “home”: what more can be done to plug the rural housing gap?
RSN Member Insights produced by Dan Worth, Research & Performance Analyst, RSN. Please click on the link to access the Housing Insights.
Attendance and Apologies
Attendance:
| Full Name | Organisation |
| Sarah Adams | Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Councils |
| Bethan Aldridge | Rural Services Network |
| Cllr Paul Anstey | Fordingbridge Town Council |
| Gwenda Beckley | Teignbridge District Council |
| Madeleine Bell | Harrogate Borough Council |
| Jane Berni | YMCA Community Lincs |
| Graham Biggs MBE | Rural Services Network |
| Cllr Jake Bishop | Ampthill Town Council |
| Penny Body | Devon Churches Rural Forum |
| Kerry Bolister | Housing Plus Group |
| Kerry Booth | Rural Services Network |
| Jenna Brame | Cambridgeshire ACRE |
| Cllr Julian Brazil | South Hams District Council |
| Valerie Bunting | Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council |
| Cllr Sheila Burry | Clare Town Council |
| Cllr Raymond Cade | Wealden District Council |
| Cllr Sarah Carney | Bridport Town Council |
| Kieran Carr | Cambridgeshire ACRE |
| Olivia Carr | Cambridgeshire ACRE |
| Cllr Ian Carrington | North Kesteven District Council |
| Keith Chaplin | Forest of Dean District Council |
| Sarah Close | Harrogate Borough Council |
| Robert Cogings | Derbyshire Dales District Council |
| Martin Collett | English Rural HA |
| Justine Cook | Westbury Town Council |
| Vanessa Cookson | Bassetlaw District Council |
| Cllr Sue Cooper | South Oxfordshire District Council |
| Cllr Allan Daniels | Allerdale Borough Council |
| Andy Dean | Rural Services Network |
| Cllr Judith Derbyshire | Eden District Council |
| Matthew Dodd | Homes England |
| Richard Dowson | Raising Aspirations Empowering Change Ltd |
| Cllr Alan Dunn | Keswick Town Council |
| Julie Dyer | Westbury Town Council |
| Shannon English | East Suffolk Council |
| Cllr John Evans | Uttlesford District Council |
| Stuart Francis-Dubois | Willow Tree Housing |
| Stephen Gabriel | Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Councils |
| Brendan Gallagher | Lincolnshire County Council |
| Kirsty Gilby | Corsham Town Council |
| Jo Giles | Cadent Ltd |
| Cllr Jan Goffey | Okehampton Town Council |
| Cllr Richard Good | Richmondshire District Council |
| Carol Grey | Penrith Town Council |
| Robert Grigorjevs | Eden District Council |
| Michael Harris OBE | New Forest District Council |
| Lizzi Hearn | CPRE |
| Cllr Robert Heseltine | North Yorkshire County Council |
| Debbie Holloway | Pillar Land Securities |
| David Inman | Rural Services Network |
| Justin Johnson | Rutland County Council |
| Liz Johnson-Idan | Chard Town Council |
| Helen Johnstone | Stroud District Council |
| Cllr Phil King | Harborough District Council |
| Andrea King | Northumberland County Council |
| Kim Langley | West Suffolk Council |
| Antony Leech | West Devon Borough Council |
| Peter Lock | Uttlesford District Council |
| Ursula Mann | Tavistock Town Council |
| Maureen Margrie | Cirencester Housing |
| Charlotte Mccallister | West Suffolk Council |
| Angie Morrissey | Cornwall Rural Housing Association Limited |
| Richard Mugglestone | Midlands Rural Housing |
| Leigh Palmer | Lewes and Eastbourne Councils |
| Samantha Parkin | Moretonhampstead Parish Council |
| Sue Petters | Barnstaple Town Council |
| Richard Pinnock | Mendip District Council |
| Lee Price | West Suffolk Council |
| Cllr John Redpath | Guildford Borough Council |
| Desi Reed | East Suffolk Council |
| Alex Rehaag | West Devon & South Hams Councils |
| Rebecca Richards | Lancaster City Council |
| Mary Ridgway | Teignbridge District Council |
| Julie Salisbury | West Suffolk Council |
| Kay Sentence | Thame CLT |
| David Siddle | East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
| Laura Smith | East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
| Susan Southwell | Somerset West and Taunton Council |
| Cllr Harry St John | West Oxfordshire District Council |
| Gavin Stonham | Guildford Borough Council |
| Cllr Mike Thompson | St Austell Town Council |
| Sarah Thorneycroft | Cornwall Council |
| Cllr Peter Thornton | Cumbria County Council |
| Cllr John Toye | North Norfolk District Council |
| Michael Tu | Arundel Town Council |
| Cllr Brenda Weston | Somerset West and Taunton Council |
| Cllr Sarah Williams | Bridport Town Council |
| Cllr Marie Williams | Uttoxeter Town Council |
| Cllr Liz Withington | North Norfolk District Council |
| Helen Wood | South East Water |
| Cllr David Worden | North Devon Council |
| Cllr Julie Yelland | West Devon Borough Council |
Apologies:
|
Full Name |
Organisation |
|
Tom Ashton |
East Lindsey District Council |
|
Cllr Philip Atkins |
Staffordshire County Council |
|
Cllr Tim Ball |
Bath and North East Somerset Council |
|
Roz Barnett |
Saxmundham Town Council |
|
Ursula Bennion |
Trent & Dove Housing |
|
Cllr Paul Bishop |
Clare Town Council |
|
Debbie Bond |
Edenbridge Town Council |
|
James Brewer |
Isle of Wight Council |
|
Cllr Alan Burgis |
Camelford Town Council |
|
Murry Burnett |
West Oxfordshire District Council |
|
Cllr Sarah Butikofer |
North Norfolk District Council |
|
Jo Calvert |
South Somerset District Council |
|
Esther Carter |
Sedgemoor District Council |
|
Frank Cracknell |
West Suffolk Council |
|
Cllr Donald Davies |
North Somerset Council |
|
Susan Deacon |
Stroud District Council |
|
Jackie Deane |
Great Dunmow Town Council |
|
Julie Debbage |
Leominster Town Council |
|
Mark Dow |
West Sussex County Council |
|
Cllr Suzanne Fairless-Aitken |
Hexham Town Council |
|
Rachael Fullwood |
Lincolnshire Rural Housing Association |
|
Cllr Margaret Godwin |
Clare Town Council |
|
Andy Haime |
Lincolnshire Rural HA Ltd |
|
David Hall |
Northumberland County Council |
|
Cllr Paul Harris |
Gillingham Town Council |
|
Sarah Harris |
Westbury Town Council |
|
Connor Harrison |
Hambleton District Council |
|
Duncan Harvey |
Sedgemoor District Council |
|
Nik Harwood |
Young Somerset |
|
Cllr Joanna Hewitt |
Sandy Town Council |
|
Cllr Claire Hodson |
Torridge District Council |
|
Bryn Howells |
Tewkesbury Borough Council |
|
Nicola Kemp |
Somerset West and Taunton Council |
|
Rev Richard Kirlew |
The Agricultural Chaplains Association |
|
Paul Leadbetter |
Charnock Richard Parish Council |
|
Cllr Petrina Lees |
Uttlesford District Council |
|
Toby Matthews |
Norfolk County Council |
|
Madeleine McGarvie |
South Cambridgeshire District Council |
|
Conrad Moore |
Stroud District Council |
|
Janet Neale |
Warwickshire County Council |
|
Elspeth Pooley |
East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
|
Pam Posnett |
Leicestershire County Council |
|
Cllr Barry Ratcliffe |
West Devon Borough Council |
|
Cllr Richard Sherras |
Ribble Valley Borough Council |
|
Liz Small |
North Yorkshire County Council |
|
Ann Stewart |
North Yorkshire County Council |
|
Pippa Stroud |
Stroud District Council |
|
Dez Tanser |
North Northamptonshire Council |
|
Karen Tarburton |
Harworth and Bircotes Town Council |
|
Amy Thomas |
Lincolnshire County Council |
|
Paul Thomas |
Isle of Wight Council |
|
Nadine Trout |
Rural Services Network |
|
Cllr Adrian Watney |
Bovingdon Parish Council |
|
Cllr Mark Winnington |
Staffordshire County Council |
|
Rebekah Wood |
Sedgemoor District Council |
