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

Rural Housing Week 2018: Saving Rural Communities

The main theme of Rural Housing Week 2018 was to demonstrate the positive value of housebuilding in rural areas, and to show how building affordable housing is helping rural communities to survive and thrive while notions of NIMBYism are becoming outdated.

Numerous events took place around the country between 2 and 6 July highlighting successes around the country where affordable housebuilding has made a positive difference to rural communities.

Isolation & loneliness, innovation and the impacts of demographic change were secondary themes to the week which, yet again, proved a huge success in emphasising the positive difference which is being made all the time by members of the Rural Housing Alliance, local authorities and others in addressing local rural needs. This month’s edition of the Spotlight highlights a number of these recent success stories.

A new rural settlement: Fixing the affordable housing crisis in rural England

Coverage of the housing crisis all too often focuses on our towns and cities, principally those in London and the South East. But unaffordability, and the problems it causes, are not isolated to urban areas. This is the conclusion of a recent report published by the Institute for Public Policy.

“With housing policy now near the top of the political agenda, and reviews on social and affordable housing being undertaken by both major political parties, there is now an opportunity to make the case for a tailored approach to delivering the affordable homes that rural communities need. In light of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, there is also a need to rethink rural policy more widely, creating an opportunity to put the delivery of affordable housing at the heart of a new rural agenda.”

This report sets out a series of policy solutions which aim to allow rural communities to build the homes that they need and ensure that the English countryside isn’t just able to survive but thrive. You can view a copy of the report via this link.

5 Star Plan for Rural Housing – 1st Annual Review

Martin Collett, Rural Housing Alliance & Monica Burns, National Housing Federation

The 5-star plan for rural housing was formally launched during Rural Housing Week 2017. This five-year plan presented a clear ambition from housing associations to increase the supply of well-designed affordable rural homes. So far, the plan has attracted support from 95 organisations. This includes 55 housing associations and all leading rural organisations.

To have value, the 5-star plan needs to prove what impact it has as a stand-alone ambition and through associated activity. This review one year after the launch is designed to highlight some of this value. Although at the time of drafting this update figures are unavailable, indications are that over the past 12 months the level of affordable rural housing completions has increased as has the level of investment into rural housing from Homes England.

During the early stages of developing the 5-star plan, housing associations and rural organisations were consulted on what the main challenges would be to delivery. Together the Rural Housing Alliance and National Housing Federation have sought to tackle these and a summary of these details is available via this link. 

Little Addington development in Northamptonshire gets underway

Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association’s latest development of affordable homes has got underway in Little Addington, with the official start on site event taking place during Rural Housing Week.

Two homes for affordable rent and four for shared ownership are being built, along with five for open market sale, and all will be offered to people with a connection to the village.

Representatives from East Northamptonshire Council and NRHA’s partners, Orbit and RDC, came together to celebrate work beginning at the site, which is NRHA’s first development in Little Addington.

Craig Felts, Company Secretary, explains: “Our small-scale affordable developments, such as Little Addington, offer a lifeline to local people.  Our work is driven by local housing need and a commitment to house those who are unable to compete on the open market.”

Local connections for North Yorkshire scheme

Every person in the 11 homes which have been built by Broadacres in Oswin Grove, Gilling West, near Richmond, has a connection to the village, either because they originally come from the village, or they work in the surrounding area.

They include Irene Nichol, who is renting a two-bedroom home. The grandmother-of-seven has lived in Gilling West for the past 11 years. She said: “My family live in the area and I have horses stabled on the outskirts of the village, so I was keen to remain in Gilling. The one-bedroom property I was renting privately had become expensive to maintain as I needed to pay for electricity for the central heating and coal/logs for the fire, plus it was difficult when one of my grandchildren wanted to stay over.

“I have lived in older properties all my life and never thought I would want to be in a new one, but I can’t see my going back now. I pay only a little bit more in rent each month but for that I have a much bigger house with a guest bedroom and I think I will actually end up saving money on heating as the new house is so much more efficient. It feels like I have died and gone to heaven.”

Broadacres worked in partnership with Richmondshire District Council and its contractor Esh Property Services to build the homes on the site of the former Oswin Grove sheltered housing scheme, in the heart of the village. The scheme was demolished in 2015 after being affected by flooding.

The homes on the new development have been built at a higher level so they will not be affected by any possible flooding. This is in addition to the flood alleviation work that was carried out in the village a few years ago.

The total cost of the development is £1.64 million, which includes a grant of £352,000 from Homes England. Gail Teasdale, Broadacres’ Chief Executive, said: “Working with our partners, we are delighted to have been able to provide much-needed affordable homes for local people in a popular village where the cost of renting privately or buying outright is high. During the initial consultation process, people living in the village expressed a desire to see more family homes and to ensure any development is in keeping with the area. We have responded to their wishes and have delivered a scheme which adds great value to the village.”

Amanda Madden, Rural Housing Enabler for Richmondshire District Council, said: “This development provides an affordable option for local people who want to remain living in Richmondshire and this scheme is a great example of what true partnership working can achieve.”

Bishop opens Lake District affordable homes

Mitre Housing Association’s 10-unit scheme in the centre of Coniston offers much needed affordable housing in the heart in the Lake District, where second-home ownership and holiday homes dominate the market.  All of the units have been let to local individuals and families who were in affordable housing need.

The scheme inception was in 2014 when the Diocese of Carlisle proposed to sell their youth centre on the open market.  Mitre carried out a feasibility study for the scheme and made an offer for the site which, after negotiation, was accepted.

The Bishop of Carlisle opened the scheme in April 2018 and local primary school children wrote a poem to mark the occasion. The Rt Revd James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle, said: “I am a huge supporter of Mitre Housing Association and I am delighted that they have been able to secure this site at Coniston. It was always our stipulation that, after the Youth Centre closed, this site should continue to serve local people through the development of affordable housing.”

Part of the youth centre was refurbished to create four of the new homes.  The original hall was demolished to make way for the new build units and part of the former car park was also utilised.  The slate from the hall was re-used in the new development allowing Mitre to design properties with features that were in keeping with the Lakeland surroundings.

All properties were fitted with solar PV panels to increase renewable energy on the site and reduce the running costs for the households.

South Western Housing Society’s Community Fund in action

During Rural Housing Week South Western Housing Society presented cheques from its Community Fund to two local projects, the first to the local Stoke Sub Hamdon Youth Group.

The Parish Council currently provides financial support to the local Hamdon Youth Group which is aimed at the younger generation.  Since the inception of the group, anti-social behaviour in the village has significantly reduced and the young people are demonstrating pride in belonging to the village and joining in supporting events.

Part of the council grant supports the employment of a professional Youth Worker to provide key support on such topics as drugs, alcohol, gambling, and relationships as well as structured recreational activities. The Parish Council have recently been asked if it would support the employment of a second Youth Worker as the group has grown in size to over 60 young people and the annual grant now totals £5,890 to the Group. 

St Andrews School, Cullompton, also benefited from the Community Fund. The Society has a total of 41 properties in Cullumpton and many of the primary school children attend St Andrews School. The School has recently been  extended to be able to accommodate the additional children from the expansion of the Market Town in Mid Devon and it held its official opening on 3rd July 2018.

New home is life changing for Shropshire family

The Roberts family, Helen, Ian and their five daughters, moved into their new purpose built home last year, following completion of 55 new homes in the rural village of St Martins, Oswestry, by The Wrekin Housing Trust.

Martha, is a bit of a star; she has been recognised by West Mercia Police with a good citizen award. Like many children she loves giraffes, drawing and playing with her sisters. A neuro-muscular disorder physically affects her body in many ways meaning she has various support needs and her symptoms become progressively worse over the course of the day.

The four bedroom bungalow features a family kitchen and lounge area together with a wet room which is kitted out with specialist equipment to assist Martha with her day to day needs. Designed to be fully accessible for wheelchair the property has everything in place to enable further adaptations such as hoists in the future if required.

The family’s previous three bedroom home had an upstairs bathroom and didn’t offer Martha the space to use her wheelchair, which meant she had to be physically carried upstairs to be washed.

Mum Helen says; “This bungalow is simply amazing for us all. It has given me and the family immense peace of mind. I was worried that Martha’s room would feel clinical but it doesn’t at all. The wet room has been such a blessing and I know that whatever happens in the future we have a home that can adapt and cope with any changes. Martha’s health has improved since our move mainly due to lessening physical demands of the property”

Martha says of the move; “I now have the best bedroom ever and enjoy sharing it with my sister. I love it in here and having two bathrooms means I don’t have to wait anymore!”

Warwickshire Rural Exception scheme on site

Warwickshire Rural Housing Association’s latest development of affordable homes has got underway, with the official start on site event taking place during Rural Housing Week.

Representatives from WRHA’s partners, Stonewater and R & M Jackson Developments, joined together in marking work beginning at Claverdon, WRHA’s first development in the village.

One home for affordable rent and two for shared ownership are being built at the site at the heart of the village.  The original plan was to redevelop a brownfield haulage garage site just outside Claverdon, but WRHA felt that it didn’t offer sufficient space and that its location wasn’t ideal.

The housing association suggested a rural exception site in the village itself and, following negotiations, the landowner agreed to provide land next to the village school which matched WRHA’s space requirements.

With house prices soaring in rural Warwickshire, the three homes will only be offered to people with a connection to the village to help enable local people to stay in, or return to, Claverdon.

Craig Felts, Company Secretary, explains: “Our small-scale affordable developments, such as Claverdon, offer a lifeline to local people.  Our work is driven by local housing need and a commitment to house those who are unable to compete on the open market. We look forward to welcoming our first residents to Claverdon in the future.”

New homes provided across rural Hampshire

Since 2005 the HARAH partnership has provided 490 new affordable homes in 49 villages across Hampshire. The past year alone has seen an incredible 90 new homes built. HARAH (Hampshire Alliance for Rural Affordable Housing) is a partnership of 6 rural Hampshire councils, 2 national parks, 5 rural housing associations and the charity Action Hampshire.

These 490 affordable homes provide accommodation for around 2000 local people, with 99% of new residents having a strong proven connection to the village where the homes are.

Figures reveal just how important these homes are for local households- someone on an average salary would need a pay rise of between 133% in Test Valley, and 203% in the New Forest to be able to get a mortgage to buy in their area. HARAH’s homes are affordable- some are for rent at 80% or less of the market rent, and others are shared ownership. Almost a quarter of adults living in rural areas name housing as one of the most important issues facing Britain today, so these homes offer a lifeline for local people wanting to remain or work in their village.

As well as providing homes, affordable housing also breathes life into rural communities. On average, every month across Britain, 11 rural schools, 3 rural post offices and 1.5 village GP surgeries close. New affordable homes provide new customers and job opportunities to help keep Hampshire schools, shops, post offices and pubs open and vibrant.

HARAH is always looking to work in more villages across Hampshire, but in order to help local communities thrive, land is needed for the new homes. Working with HARAH allows land owners to provide a benefit to local people, to leave a legacy and to convert redundant land to capital.

Any landowners, Parish Council and local residents can speak to HARAH to find out more about rural affordable housing 01962 857361 or by looking at the website www.harah.org.uk

New affordable homes provided for local people in National Park

Broadacres Housing Association marked rural housing week by announcing details of a new scheme which will help to ease the cost of living for local people who want and need to live in a popular North Yorkshire market town.

The cost of renting privately in Helmsley is high due to the town’s popularity as a tourist destination, being located within the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. This means many people from the town are forced to move away because they cannot afford to live there.

However, Broadacres Housing Association, in partnership with Wharfedale Homes, is seeking to remedy this by providing 18 new homes for affordable rent for people from Helmsley.

The homes form part of Wharfedale Homes’ high quality 61-home Swanland Park development. The first homes will be handed over to Broadacres later this year and all 18 will be allocated to people with a connection to Helmsley, either because they grew up or live there, or work in the town. Wharfedale Homes is also providing an additional six houses for sale at a discounted price, making a total of 24 affordable homes on the site.

Broadacres’ Chief Executive Gail Teasdale said: “The main theme of Rural Housing Week 2018 is to demonstrate the positive value of housebuilding in rural areas, and to show how building affordable housing is helping rural communities to survive and thrive. We are therefore delighted to be able to announce the provision of 18 homes for affordable rent in Helmsley, a town where the cost of renting privately is very high.

“The people who will directly benefit from the new homes will have a local connection to the town and not only will this mean they can remain in Helmsley, it will help ease their cost of living.

Chris Patmore, Director of Wharfedale Homes, said: “The provision of affordable homes has always been an important part of this project and along with the Helmsley Estate, North York Moors National Park Authority, Ryedale District Council and Helmsley Town Council, it is something we have been committed to from the start.

“There is great need for high quality, well designed market and affordable housing in Helmsley and by delivering one of the largest new build schemes in the National Park, we are helping to meet this demand. This scheme could not have been made possible without the support of our partners, including the local community and Helmsley in Business.”

Local authorities help needed to deliver rural affordable homes

Following publication of research by the National Housing Federation showing that more than 6,000 post offices, 287 pubs and six schools have closed across the Midlands in the last five years, the managing director of Telford-based Wrekin Housing Trust, is asking for local authority help in delivering more affordable homes to meet local need.

Wayne Gethings, believes there is capacity to construct more affordable houses in rural Shropshire, but it is being stumped by challenges in finding land that is both suitable and affordable.

“We are determined to find a way of providing more rural homes for individuals and families who would otherwise be priced out of the market, but there are more barriers to overcome in sought-after rural village locations,” said Wayne.

“The high price of land, the costs associated with preparing the land so it is safe to build on and contributions we might be asked for towards infrastructure, to help improve highways or drainage, for example, make it unviable for us to consider.

“Whereas private developers are in a position to meet the additional costs, knowing they will recoup their outlay on house sale profits, housing associations can struggle.”

“We are trying to think more creatively about how and where houses are built, but the local authorities need to do more to help.  This could be through the offer of remediation packages to help us prepare land for development or help with the infrastructure funding.”

SHAL celebrates delivery of rural affordable homes in Somerset

Since 2010, SHAL Housing Ltd has built 92 affordable rented homes for local communities in Somerset.  These range from 1 bed flats to 4 bed family homes providing safe, warm and affordable homes to a decent standard for people who are homeless or in housing need.  The average age of the tenants in these new rural developments is 39, ranging from people in their late teens to their late 60s.  This has helped families stay together in the place they call home.  37% of the homes are in small towns and villages across Somerset.  16% are in rural ‘off gas’ rural areas.

In the South West the average cost of renting is over £700 per month, swallowing up around 36% of local incomes and pushing many families into rent poverty.  More than 20% of all second homes in the UK are located in the South West, increasing prices for local people.  SHAL are clear that the region isn’t building enough homes.  Between 2012 and 2016, there was a shortfall of over 21,000 houses across the South West. In Somerset the average house price is £245,091.  The average monthly private rent is £646 and people need an income of £56,021 for an 80% mortgage.

Housing Association installs life-saving technology

Life-saving medical equipment is just minutes away for anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest whilst visiting a Stafford business estate thanks to the area's leading provider of affordable homes, Stafford & Rural Homes.

The housing association has funded and installed an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on the outside of it headquarters on Stafford Technology Park.

Providing an essential and potentially life-saving, stage in the treatment of anyone suffering a heart attack, defifbrillators are easy to operate with step-by-step instructions for members of the public to use in an emergency. They're becoming an increasingly common sight in public places across the country and have already saved many lives.

At a recent launch event, representatives of other businesses on the Technology Park were invited to the SARH offices in Parker Court to join the housing association's employees for demonstrations on how to use the life-saving technology.

Karen Armitage, SARH Chief Executive explained: "The health and wellbeing of people living and working in the communities we serve is important to us, so hosting a defibrillator for use by anyone who is taken ill near to our offices made perfect sense."

Four generations celebrate Rural Housing Week in Yarwell

Four generations of one family have been brought together by Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association’s brand new affordable housing development in Yarwell.

Four-year-old Isabella Lovett and her 78-year-old grandma, Jean Perry, are living proof that housebuilding in rural areas is helping communities to survive and thrive.

Isabella and Jean, along with other members of their extended family, joined Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association for a celebration tea party, to help mark Rural Housing Week 2018 and the completion of the organisation’s latest development of affordable homes.

The main theme of this year’s national event is to demonstrate the positive value of housebuilding in rural areas and to show why the idea of NIMBYism – Not In My Back Yard - is simply outdated. NRHA’s most recent development in the village of Yarwell is a perfect example of how affordable homes can bring communities – and families - together.

Kayley and David Lovett applied for a home on the development to be nearer Kayley’s mum and dad. And so did her grandma! Kayley explains: “We were living in a neighbouring village with our two children, Corey, aged eight, and Isabella, aged four. We had got to the stage where we really needed a bigger house as we only had two bedrooms, and we also wanted to be closer to my parents as I have just started a nursing degree and we need their support with childcare.”

Kayley’s parents, David and Caroline White, were already living in Dovecote Close, Yarwell, so when NRHA began work on a development of affordable housing along the same road, it seemed the ideal opportunity for the family to move closer together.

The development of five new homes for affordable rent and four for shared ownership was made possible by funding from Homes England. All the properties were offered to people with a local connection to the village such as through family or work ties.

Kayley, aged 30, says: “We moved in to the new development at the end of May and we honestly couldn’t be happier. We have three lovely bedrooms and a nice garden, which has turned out to be an amazing asset. The children absolutely adore it and it has improved their little lives no end. And of course, we are so close to my mum and dad now which is wonderful. They are able to pick the children up from school and give them their tea if I am going to be late home, which has already been an absolute godsend.”

And the family connection doesn’t end there, as Kayley’s grandma, Jean Perry, has also moved into a bungalow on the new development. Kayley says: “My grandma was living down in Portsmouth but she wanted to be closer to her family now she is getting older. We never had the chance to drop in for a cup of tea and a chat before as she lived so far away, but now we pop in all the time and she has the reassurance of knowing that we are all so close.

Craig Felts, Company Secretary of Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association, commented: “Our new development at Yarwell shows how small-scale affordable housing developments can transform the lives of local families such as the Lovetts. By bringing families together in our rural communities, we are helping to keep our villages alive for the generations to come.”

Housing Association delivers community-led scheme in Warwickshire

Five homes for affordable rent and four for local market sale have been developed in Long Compton, Warwickshire with a mix of houses and bungalows to meet local need.  All the properties have been built specifically for people with a connection to Long Compton or the adjoining parishes, such as through family or work.

The scheme has been truly community led from start to finish, with the Parish Council shaping the entire development and giving its full support throughout.  It is the first completed scheme which has been borne out of the Long Compton Neighbourhood Plan which aims to give local people more say in the future of where they live.

Dorothy and Robert Heeks helped Warwickshire Rural Housing Association (WRHA) to kick off a week-long celebration to mark Rural Housing Week 2018.

The couple are so happy with their brand new home in Long Compton that they were delighted to be joined by WRHA Board members, colleagues and partners to celebrate the completion of the new development at Weston Court.

Dorothy and Robert are living proof that housebuilding in rural areas is helping individuals and families to remain in the villages they know and love.  Having been married for 54 years, they are now looking forward to living out their retirement in Long Compton, thanks to WRHA.

Next phase of Community Housing Fund announced

Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, confirmed the launch of the Community Housing Fund during his speech to the Policy Exchange on 2 July 2018. Revenue funding to help groups reach planning stage and capital for site infrastructure such as roads and utilities is now available.

The National Community Land Trust Network explains: “In a change from the first year of the Fund, Homes England will now manage and assess applications. The funding will come in two phases: revenue grants to help community led housing groups to fund planning stages and capital for infrastructure; followed by capital grants for the construction of affordable housing.”

You can read the full prospectus for the fund via this link.