Breadcrumbs
How can we tackle the rural housing crisis? - 18 November 2004
Over 130 companies, government representatives and charities from across England and Wales will meet to tackle this pressing need for affordable housing facing our rural communities. Their common aim is to help local people remain in their communities and keep their schools, shops, pubs and other services alive.
This event is part of HRH The Prince of Wales’s Affordable Rural Housing Initiative, launched in June 2003 to engage the private sector in the provision of affordable rural housing. The Duke of Westminster is hosting the event at Eaton Hall, Cheshire.
Landowners, housebuilders, lenders, investors and other professionals are examining their own resources – land, property and expertise – to identify the contribution they can make. The conference provides a platform to share some of the success stories emerging and to look at how these can be repeated across the country.
The Initiative involves a partnership between some of the most influential organisations in this field including Business in the Community, The Countryside Agency, The Housing Corporation and The Country Land and Business Association.
The Initiative will start to focus on regional ‘hot spots’ where work with landowners, local authorities and housing providers will seek opportunities to get new schemes off the ground and help provide for people living in rural areas.
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Notes to editors: For interviews with key spokespeople or for more information please contact Libby Sandbrook on 020 7566 8663 or 07793 443 113. A media slot has been organised at the event from 9-9.45am for interviews with key spokespeople - for security reasons it is essential to contact Libby Sandbrook in advance.
Pre-recorded clips with HRH The Prince of Wales are available for broadcast.
QUOTES
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales said: "The lack of housing affordable for local people is one of the most pressing issues facing our countryside. This is an issue for us all, not one which can be left for someone else to solve. Landowners can help to make land available. Developers can strive towards high quality and sustainable developments, promoting a mix of tenure as a prerequisite to any sustainable community. Lenders and investors can develop innovative ways of making schemes financially viable. And these are only a few examples of what is possible. And, of course, it is not all about building new housing: you only have to raise your eyes up at the first floors of shops on the high streets of many market towns to notice how many lie empty.
"If just half of the 16,000 rural settlements in England alone has one new affordable housing development of five or six homes, we will have made real progress in meeting rural needs. And if one business in each market town in England and Wales were to convert empty space this could provide over 3,000 homes for local people."
His Grace, The Duke of Westminster said: “In Cheshire, which is a predominantly rural county, the problems are as acute as anywhere. House prices are almost six times people’s income, making them unaffordable to most.
“As a landowner, I know that I can make an important contribution to meeting the local need for affordable housing and I am determined to maintain the social structure of rural communities where I can bring influence to bear. The Estate has provided additional purpose-built housing for our pensioners and also seeks to ensure that rents are affordable to accommodate young families, thereby maintaining a balanced social structure, which has a knock-on effect for the village school, the shop, the village hall and the church."
Margaret Clark, director of the Countryside Agency said: "The lack of affordable housing in rural areas affects businesses as well as families and individuals. Many businesses and property owners would do more but often they don't know how they can help. This Initiative is a step in the right direction - by engaging business and by helping to demonstrate practical solutions. Even a small contribution, such as releasing a small parcel of land or converting an empty space above a shop, can make a big difference, to the benefit of all. More affordable housing not only helps to maintain rural communities, it makes business sense too, providing accommodation for the workforce and making use of underused assets."
Libby Sandbrook, Affordable Rural Housing Director with Business in the Community said: “The Affordable Rural Housing Initiative is entering into a new and important stage. There is considerable momentum behind us and we will now focus our efforts on regional ‘hot spots’. Working with landowners, local authorities and housing providers, we will seek opportunities to provide the housing so desperately needed by local people."
Mark Hudson, President of the Country Land & Business Association said: "Landowners have shown they can provide local affordable housing where planning policies are flexible and supportive. We want to see families able to live in the villages where they grew up and keep these communities alive. Some good work has been done, now let's seize this momentum to encourage further public-private initiatives to provide more affordable rural homes."
John Carleton, Housing Corporation, Field Director North said:"Housing associations have a vital role to play - not only in developing rural housing but in seeking opportunities to work with theprivate sector to expand the provision and quality of rural housing.There is scope for constructive partnership that will benefit all sides.”
Paul Pedley, Chief Executive of Redrow Plc said: "First time buyers are key to a sustainable housing market. It is of paramount importance to the future prosperity of the UK that we address the essential issue of affordability within the housing market."
CASE STUDIES – these examples highlight how local people and private companies have joined together to help meet the need for affordable housing in their area.
Private estate owner takes the lead on affordable scheme in Cheshire.
Contact: Anthony Barbour, Tel: 01829 782210
Local company provides 14 affordable homes for local people to buy at £70,000 to £80,000 in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria.
Contact: Simon Drummond-Hay, Tel: 015242 76205
Baker sells small plot of land to build affordable housing and enable people to live closer to work in the village of Lazonby, Cumbria.
Contact: Paul Davies, Tel: 01768 861400
Local partnership forms Community Land Trust to develop farmland for housing, work space and community facilities in the village of High Bickington, Devon.
Contact: Bob Paterson, Development Consultant, Wessex Reinvestment Trust, Tel: 01392 332853
Builder's Yard converted to mixed use development, providing 30 affordable homes for local people and supporting the local economy in the Lake District National Park.
Contact: Mike Muir, Tel: 01900 842140
Local housebuilder in Lincolnshire launches shared equity scheme to house local workers.
Contact: Ian Canham, Tel: 01406 380532
Norfolk’s largest holiday cottage letting agency encourages holiday-makers to contribute to funding a Rural Housing Facilitator for Norfolk.
Contact:l.alexander@norfolkcottages.co.uk
Communities Land Trusts pave way for local housing in Wales.
Contact:Jonathan Brown Tel: 02920 43 1700, email jbrown@wcva.org.uk
Church makes land available for affordable housing in Worcestershire.
Contact:Alan Saunders, Rural Housing Enabler, Tel: 01386 565521
Investors to buy ‘Half a House’ to help local people get a foot on the property ladder, Yorkshire & Humber.
Contact:Gavin Graveson, Tel: 01748 886 470
