A new £2.5 million package of UK government funding is set to help develop affordable housing schemes in rural areas.
The funding package announced today (Friday, November 10) will see the introduction of a network of independent advisors who will work with communities to develop the housing schemes.
The advisors will help identify suitable development opportunities in communities, support site owners and community representatives and create developments in rural areas that meet the needs of local people, the government said.
The scheme is being delivered in conjunction with Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE).
In the first payments from the fund, £81,000 is being awarded in Northumberland to Community Action Northumberland and a payment of £93,000 is being awarded to Cambridgeshire ACRE.
These payments aim to see the creation a new Rural Housing Enabler scheme in Northumberland and the expansion of an existing Rural Housing Enabler project in Cambridgeshire.
Other projects are set to be announced across England next year.
The Minister for Rural Affairs, Lord Benyon, said:
“All too often people are unable to live near to the village where they work or were brought up. We are making it a priority that rural communities have access to the housing they need.
“Our support for rural housing advisors will help develop small scale affordable housing schemes that fit in with the local area.
“Together with our policies to improve transport, connectivity and access to public services, this is another demonstration of our commitment to unleash opportunity in rural areas.”
Rural Housing Enablers scheme
The expansion of the Rural Housing Enablers scheme was first announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in the ‘Unleashing Rural Opportunity‘ document published earlier this summer.
It sets out plans to unlock growth and potential in rural areas by “creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country”.
ACRE executive director, Richard Quallington, said: “We’re thrilled to be delivering this programme for Defra.
“Many people in rural communities understand there’s a need for much more affordable housing but they are often opposed to unfettered commercial developments that neither fit in with the area, nor create homes that go to those who genuinely need it.
“The decision by the government to back Rural Housing Enablers is hugely positive news, as it will mean many more communities across England can access independent support and advice to help them appraise the need for affordable homes locally, navigate complicated planning rules and work with more socially minded developers to bring forward suitable schemes.”
