Spotlight on Rural Housing - April 2025

A quarterly bulletin facilitated by your membership of the Rural Services Network and produced in partnership with the Rural Housing Alliance, highlighting a selection of current rural housing issues and opportunities

Exploring the Impact of Devolution on Affordable Rural Housing Delivery

The Rural Housing Network is currently commissioning a research partner a research partner to explore the impact of devolution on the delivery of affordable rural housing. This project aims to identify key risks and opportunities associated with devolution and provide evidence-based recommendations to safeguard and improve the delivery of affordable homes in rural communities with populations of less than 3,000.

The RHN is a coalition of organisations dedicated to representing rural communities and advocating for the provision of affordable housing.

It is anticipated that he research will commence in April and be concluded by autumn 2025.

You can read more information at this link.

North Yorkshire affordable home scheme comes to fruition

People are about to move into their new eco-friendly homes as part of £19.5 million affordable housing development in a North Yorkshire village.

Broadacres, working in partnership with the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire Council, Homes England and Keepmoat Homes, have completed the first of 88 new homes which are being built on the site of a former hatchery and piggery in the village of Aiskew, near Bedale.

All 88 homes have been made affordable with 49 for social rent and 39 for shared ownership, the latter enabling people to get a foot on the property ladder without having to secure large mortgages.

Broadacres has been awarded funding of £1.23 million from York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund, made available through investment from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. An additional £6.23 million was provided by Homes England to put towards the total cost of the scheme.

The development features a mixture of one, two, three and four-bedroom houses to benefit a cross-section of the community.

All 88 homes will be heated by renewable energy air-source heat pumps and have other energy saving features, such as triple glazed windows and enhanced levels of insulation to make them net zero ready.

Broadacres Chair Helen Simpson said the scheme was a great example of what can be achieved through partnership working: “By working together, we are meeting the demand for high quality, socially rented housing and helping people realise their dream of home ownership through shared ownership.”

The scheme meets the North Yorkshire Council’s objective of increasing the number of two and three-bedroom homes in the area, improving options for smaller families and couples and allowing older people to downsize.

Scrutiny panel members trained to offer a listening ear in neighbour disputes

Tenant Scrutiny Panel members from White Horse Housing Association have been trained in mediation skills to enable them to offer a listening ear for fellow tenants involved in neighbour disputes.

They have been taking part in a specially designed Introduction to Mediation course since last October, which, said Operations Director Belinda Eastland, will equip them to help when disputes have reached a stalemate.

“Our housing officers are highly skilled and experienced when it comes to finding a resolution when tenants have issues with neighbours,” she said, “but we felt that there are occasions when it will help to have someone who can understand the perspective of being a tenant. It will provide even more support to those in that situation.”

The course, devised by NFS Mediation, which has experience in mediating between social housing, taught scrutiny panel members effective listening, helpful questions, clarifying responses, body language and defusing anger.

The second part of the course featured role play exercises where panel members acted as mediators and tenants to test their skills.

Scrutiny panel Chair Shakira Hilton said on behalf of the participants: “We particularly liked and learned a lot from the role play. We hope we will be able to assist in supporting tenants who want to talk to another tenant with skills in mediation to help them resolve any neighbour misunderstandings or communication issues.”

Mrs Eastland added: “These are the first steps in creating a new type of service for our tenants, from our tenants. It will offer everyone who wants it a listening ear from someone who is in a similar position to them but who has been trained to be effective in mediating and resolving issues.”

For more information, contact [email protected]

Rural Housing Week 2025 – hold the date

Every year, Rural Housing Week highlights the many social and economic benefits of affordable housing to rural communities.

This year, Rural Housing Week will take place from 7-11 July. This year's campaign will be an opportunity to highlight what rural communities need from the long-term housing strategy, and why delivering affordable housing in rural areas is key to supporting the country's ambitions for removing barriers to growth and opportunity.

If you want to see some of the highlights from Rural Housing Week 2024, take a look at this link.

Hastoe home gives Devon man hope for the future

After seven years of homelessness, Alan (not his real name) has been given a fresh start thanks to an affordable home in rural Devon.

With support from North Devon Council’s Enhanced Outreach Team, Hastoe Housing Association and the Salvation Army, he has been able to rebuild his life and now looks forward to a brighter future.

When asked about the most rewarding aspect of his new home, Alan’s answer is simple yet profound: “Being able to shut the door and being safe and warm.” The comfort and stability that come with having a secure home have been life-changing and he is enjoying the process of making the space his own.

Find out more about Alan's story and why his new home means "everything" to him at this link.

Affordable homes near completion in Somerset village

A development of 5 affordable homes by Willowtree Housing Partnership is due to be completed in May 2025.

Comprising 3 affordable rent and 2 shared ownership properties in the village of Ilton near Ilminster in Somerset, the scheme provides a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bed properties – much needed affordable homes in the local area. These high quality homes incorporate solar PV, batteries, Air Source Heat Pumps and EV charging points.

Works commenced on site for this Section 106 scheme in November 2023. WTHP is committed to providing safe and comfortable affordable homes to people who are not in a position to access the housing market, helping them to remain living in areas that may otherwise be unaffordable for them.

In collaboration with Somerset Council (South) Development Enabling Team, a community event to promote the affordable homes was held in January of this year.  The two shared ownership homes have already been allocated and it is anticipated that there will be strong demand for the rented homes when these are advertised shortly.

Retrofit for the future

Housing Association Connexus has partnered with Shrewsbury Colleges Group and the Marches Energy Agency to provide a unique learning opportunity for construction students.

The collaboration will focus on retrofitting an empty Connexus bungalow in Shawbury into a home fit for the future as well as offering students invaluable hands-on experience in sustainable construction techniques. The project is being funded by the Energy Saving Trust.

Damian Cassidy, Head of Asset Management at Connexus said: “We’re delighted to be part of this important project. We work hard to make energy efficient improvements to our homes, making them warmer and cheaper to live in. With technology constantly evolving, it’s great to be working with the experts at Marshes Energy Agency, as well as facilitating a learning environment for the future green workforce.”

As the demand for energy-efficient housing solutions grows, this initiative presents a timely and practical approach to equipping the next generation of construction professionals with essential retrofit skills. Under expert supervision, students will gain first-hand knowledge of energy-saving measures, insulation improvements, and low-carbon technologies, contributing to the national drive for more sustainable housing.

Marcus Ayling of Marches Energy Agency said: “We’re really excited about the project, it’s such a great opportunity for valuable learning for all our partners in the project, not just the students. We will be offering regular Open Days to show our progress towards an energy efficient home, as well as providing videos and webinars along the way.”

For more information, contact [email protected]

Government funds to support Community-Led Housing

The government has announced a £20 million investment to support the delivery of community-led housing.

A £20 million package for community groups, such as community land trusts and housing co-operatives, has been confirmed by the Housing Minister that will directly support the construction of more than 2,500 new homes over the next decade. These housebuilding projects will be led by communities to specifically address local needs in their area.

Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook said: “Community-led housing not only delivers social and affordable homes for local people, it also gives local communities a greater say on where new homes are built and how they are designed.

“This investment will help community-based organisations overcome barriers to housing delivery and will support the growth of the community-led housing sector.”

Chief Executive at the Community Land Trust Network, Tom Chance said: “This investment will be welcomed by hundreds of communities working to build thousands of much-needed homes, from tourist hotspots where local are priced out to city neighbourhoods blighted by a lack of investment. Community-led development offers local people a tool to be builders rather than blockers.”

You can read more at this link.

English Rural engage with future planners

English Rural Housing Association are committed to fostering a deeper understanding of the provision of affordable rural housing through all stages of the development and delivery process. Recently, they met with a group of enthusiastic University College London students from the Bartlett School of Planning, as they forge careers in the housing sector. The event was a valuable learning opportunity, filled with insightful presentations and hands-on learning experiences.

Kicking off the day’s presentations, Liz Crockford and Emma Coffin of Sevenoaks District Council shared their expertise on “Rural Planning Priorities, Villages, and Affordable Housing,” providing the students with a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities in rural.

English Rural’s Development Director, Richard DeVille, and Development Project Manager, Wendy Farrell, talked through the role of housing associations in the provision of affordable rural housing and the build process, and the day was contextualised by Tessa O’Sullivan, the Rural Housing Enabler covering Kent, who presented on “The Function of Rural Housing Enablers and Rural Exception Sites.” Tessa shed light on the crucial role that rural housing enablers play in facilitating the development of affordable housing in rural areas.

To conclude the day, the students visited an English Rural development site, where they had the opportunity to gain on-the-ground knowledge of the pre-build and planning process.

You can read more at this link.

Government consults on Supported Housing Regulation

The government is seeking views on plans to implement measures set out in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023. The government is proposing to introduce a locally led licensing regime for supported housing across England, and new National Supported Housing Standards for the support provided.

The government is also consulting on changes to Housing Benefit Regulations. The intention of the reforms is to ensure that supported housing is good quality and delivers value for money for the taxpayer.

The consultation will inform the drafting of licensing regulations which will also be consulted on later this year, together with the changes to Housing Benefit Regulations.

This consultation closes on 15 May 2025 and you can read more at this link.

Nature reserve move helps artist find a way back from debilitating stroke

Artist Chris Oliver has been aided in her recovery from a debilitating stroke by a move next door to a nature reserve.

Chris, of Cherry Orchard, Codford, lost mobility in three of her limbs when she suffered the stroke five years ago. She has now regained 80 per cent of her movement but still suffers with her balance and an intolerance of noise. She cannot listen to music or watch TV and has difficulty concentrating and even going shopping causes her distress.

At the time of her stroke she and husband Daren were living in a White Horse Housing Association home in Church Acre, Codford, which had a coach depot at its rear. “There was noise all day long and into the early hours from the coaches revving and beeping as they reversed,” she said.

“I shut down as soon as there's too much noise, I'm like a robot, and it was like dying a slow death living there.”

She asked White Horse for a move to another home in the village but it took three years for a suitable two-bedroom bungalow to become vacant. “White Horse were very sympathetic but there was just nothing else available until this one came up. They gave us time to get everything ready to move, which really helped.”

The new home borders the nature reserve created in 2011 with money from the National Lottery and Wiltshire Council in partnership with White Horse and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. “When we moved in it was like my soul breathed a huge sigh of relief,” said Chris.

She loves wildlife and is able to spend her days watching and photographing the birds feeding from the table and feeders she replenishes three times a day. “It is really peaceful and it has made a big difference to my recovery,” she said. “I just love listening to the birds while I sit drinking my coffee. I feel at peace.”

Before her stroke Chris, a trained artist originally from Plymouth, had just finished a course at Pinewood Studios making intricate miniature buildings and backgrounds for TV and films. “I had hoped to eventually work at Aardman Studios but two months after I started I had the stroke and that was it,” she said.

Her love of art has also been a factor in her recovery. From a shed studio in the garden she creates intricate sand and resin pictures, line drawings, wooden models and a plethora of other creations for friends and family.

“We say all the time how glad we are we moved here,” she said. “We think it’s beautiful and we are so grateful.”

Find Chris’ artwork on Instagram at Chriscella_art and more about White Horse at Affordable Housing Wiltshire | White Horse Housing

Connexus scoops Housing Technology award

Connexus is delighted to have received the Cyber Security Award at the recent Housing Technology Awards 2025.

The Housing Technology Awards recognise best practice in the social housing sector in UK & Ireland. This is both to celebrate the achievements of the sector’s most innovative people, teams and organisations, and to share those achievements and knowledge with the rest of the sector so that everyone can benefit from it.

The award entry detailed the December 2023 cyber security incident which affected systems and the response from teams from across the organisation to limit the impact and get the organisation working again quickly.

For more information, contact [email protected]

Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes

Government is proposing to raise the minimum energy efficiency standard required of privately rented homes in England and Wales to the equivalent of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C by 2030.

The proposed policy outlined in the current consultation exercise aims to deliver significant energy bill and carbon emissions savings in the sector to deliver against government’s statutory 2030 fuel poverty target and carbon budgets.

This consultation follows on from a consultation in 2020, with updated proposals to account for new and relevant considerations, including proposed reforms to EPCs.

Government have published a consultation stage options assessment alongside this consultation to provide analysis on the estimated impact of the policy on the sector.

This consultation closes on 2 May 2025 and you can find more information at this link.