Rural Housing Policy Review – RHEs have a voice

Rural Housing Policy Review – RHEs have a voice

CCB’s Rural Housing Enabler (RHE), Arlene Kersley, has recently submitted a response to the Rural Housing Policy Review, representing the position of RHEs across England on changes in policies that have affected the delivery of rural affordable homes over the past 10 years.  

The Rural Housing Policy Review (RHPR) has been set up by Hastoe Housing and is independently Chaired by Lord Richard Best to review how progress is being made and what obstacles remain in delivering rural affordable homes since the publication of a number of key strategic housing Affordable Housing Review and the Matthew Taylor Report, Living in the countryside.  The review will take into account the impact of changes in Housing, Planning Policy and the economic climate, and will be considering evidence from a wide spectrum of sources.

As part of the review, Arlene Kersley, the RHE at the Community Council for Berkshire, surveyed all of the ACRE Network members and known RHEs regarding their views on what has made rural exception sites succeed and what barriers remain in bringing forward affordable housing projects to England’s rural communities.  

The resultant paper highlights the difficulties for RHEs in delivering rural affordable homes in such a difficult economic climate, where funding for development is limited, affordable housing has an ambiguous definition and funding to keep RHEs in post is eroding away. 

The submission to the RHPR Board can be viewed here.

The RHPR is due to publish its findings early in 2015.