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Affordable Housing

There is a shortage of affordable housing in rural areas, which impacts on the opportunities and choices for all rural people.
Without a range of suitable properties within a village it is difficult to encourage sustainable communities and maintain a vibrant, living countryside.
Developing affordable housing is one of the crucial issues that influences the economic and social strength of rural communities, and is a major contributor to long-term community sustainability. But it is also becoming very clear that the stark warnings surrounding the effects of climate change have heightened the environmental constraints which all communities - urban and rural - must address.

The Rural Housing Enabler Project

This project aims to support communities to effect change for the better, whether through advice and guidance in building new properties, or encouraging alternative ways of providing accommodation for people on low incomes to remain within the community. affordable housing Working across East and West Sussex the project aims are:

To act as an "honest broker" to facilitate the often lengthy and complex process of developing affordable housing schemes in rural areas to encourage sustainable communities.
To meet the needs of those people who would not be able to afford accommodation on the open market
To work closely with village communities, Parish Councils, District Councils, Housing Associations, landowners, farmers and anyone else involved in the process of providing affordable housing
To identify local need through housing needs surveys
To carry out research, policy analysis, and lobbying on rural housing issues
To promote wider initiatives such as the use of empty properties, Community Land Trusts, foyer schemes and meeting needs for supported housing.
To Ensure that the site and design of new housing meets the Eco Home Build criteria to reduce emissions.

Case Studies

Click here to download case study from Community Council for Berkshire (Adobe Pdf 95kb) >>

Click here to download case study from Buckinghamshire Community Action (Adobe Pdf 1.1mb) >>

Click here to download case study from Community Action Hampshire (Adobe Pdf 46kb) >>

Click here to download case study from Action with Communities in Rural Kent (Adobe Pdf 92kb) >>

Click here to download case study from Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (Adobe Pdf 16kb) >>

Click here to download case study from Action in Rural Sussex (Adobe Pdf 75kb) >>

Affordable Housing

The Rural Housing Enabler Project

Case Studies

Further Reading