Breadcrumbs
Prince of Wales leads drive for more affordable rural housing – 27 June 2003
The Housing Corporation, the Countryside Agency, Business in the Community and the Country Land and Business Association are key partners behind this push for better provision of low cost housing in rural areas, particularly for families on low income, young people and key workers. The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Westminster are providing additional financial support.
Commenting today on the urgent need for a better provision of affordable housing in rural areas, The Prince of Wales said:
“In many rural communities the housing needs of local people far outstrip the supply of affordable housing and the consequences are severe, particularly for young people. We need to find new opportunities for landowners to bring forward rural sites; for developers to achieve high quality and sustainable developments; for financial institutions to develop innovative ways to make such schemes viable; and for business, more generally, to recognize that it can do something to help, like releasing empty properties or space over shops in market towns to be let as flats.”
Today’s initiative is the result of some of the most influential organisations in this area working together to provide advice and support to farmers, landowners and businesses who may be able to make a difference in their local areas. It focuses on the publication of two guides, one to help landowners and the other aimed at businesses, the appointment of two rural housing directors and possible sites for affordable homes.
Guides to Help Landowners and Businesses
- ‘Affordable Rural Housing: an opportunity for farmers and landowners ’published by the Countryside Agency, the Housing Corporation and the Country Land and Business Association. It encourages farmers and landowners to consider releasing land for social housing, and guides them through the issues and to the organisations who can provide solutions. Practical case studies show how to get started
- ‘Affordable Rural Housing: an opportunity for business’- published by Business in the Community, the Housing Corporation and the Countryside Agency. It shows through practical examples how companies can help to solve the problems of affordable rural housing – such as redeveloping disused properties. It also encourages banks and building societies to consider financing affordable housing, and shows how lawyers, surveyors, architects and planners could help communities, charities or local organisations.
Rural Housing Appointments
The Prince of Wales will join forces with The Duke of Westminster, the Housing Corporation and the Countryside Agency to fund two new posts at Business in the Community, of which The Prince is President. These new ‘Affordable Rural Housing Directors’ will work with companies at a senior level to help them find ways to make available land and buildings.
The appointments are part of Business in the Community’s ongoing ‘Rural Action’ programme to encourage businesses to use their skills and resources to tackle problems in rural communities – of which the provision of affordable rural housing is a key priority.
Possible Sites for Affordable Homes
The Prince of Wales will announce that The Duchy of Cornwall has identified 11 possible sites for affordable houses from as small as one or two dwellings up to 25 or more. Progress on these will be dependent on local needs and the views of communities. His Royal Highness has also asked the Duchy to write to all Parish Councils and Rural Housing Enablers* in areas where it owns land to offer help with smaller affordable housing schemes.
At Poundbury and its other developments the Duchy is already committed to provide affordable housing to meet local needs in line with guidelines set down by local authorities. Over 50 per cent of its existing housing stock is already let at below the market level.
‘Affordable Housing: Opportunities for Farmers and Landowners’ can be downloaded from www.housingcorp.gov.uk or obtained free from Housing Corporation Publications on 0207 393 2228.
‘Affordable Housing: Opportunities for Business’ can be downloaded from www.bitc.org.uk or obtained free from 0870 600 2482
NOTE TO EDITORS:
HRH The Prince of Wales will launch this affordable rural housing initiative at St James’s Palace on Friday 27th June at 11am. For further information contact:
St James’s Palace Press Office: Kirsteen Clark on 020 7024 5509/10
Countryside Agency: Isobel Coy on 020 7340 2906 or 07973 94 28 92
Housing Corporation: Gillian Watson on 020 7393 2095
Business in the Community (BITC): Vicki Steer on 020 7566 8767 or 07979 257 611
or Graham Russell, Rural Action Director on (mob) 07774 861574
Country Land and Business Association (CLA): Nick Way on 020 7235 0511
* Rural Housing Enablers are funded by the Countryside Agency and the Housing Corporation – working with parish councils and local communities to identify their housing needs and develop solutions with them and local landowners, the local authority and housing association.
