Rural Housing Week 2019
Rural Housing week is organised yearly by the National Housing Federation, the Rural Housing Alliance and Rural Services Network. The aim of the week is to highlight rural housing issues and to showcase innovative solutions for tackling them and supporting rural communities through the affordable housing process.
This year’s Rural Housing Week takes place from 1st - 5th July and is an ideal opportunity for everybody involved in rural housing to come together and celebrate the great work that is being done in rural communities to ensure that we retain a living, working countryside. This year’s theme is ‘Building for Rural Communities’ and is focussing on how housing associations can build more homes that commit to high/future design and energy efficiency standards and how they improve the quality of their existing homes.
Affordable housing is vital in rural areas to sustain small communities and to ensure their continued growth, vibrancy and a good demographic mix. The lack of affordable housing combined with the ratio of house prices to incomes makes buying a home in a rural village an impossible dream for the majority of young people and families. This leads to young people having to move away from the community in which they were raised and from their family and friends in order to find housing that they can afford. A recent report by the Affordable Housing Commission which looked at housing affordability found that 4.8 million households in Britain have affordability problems with the majority living in the private rented sector. The groups most likely to suffer from this problem are private renters of working age, low income older households and homeowners who are struggling to afford their mortgage and bills. Affordable housing, both rented and low-cost home ownership properties is vital to provide these people with a secure, affordable home in the long term.
Rural Housing Week Programme of Events
Monday 1st July – The North Devon Rural Housing Enabler will be holding an Affordable Housing Drop in event at Victory Hall, North Molton. This will take place between 2 – 7 pm and is inteRurnded to give information to those who may be interested in affordable housing in the village. The event coincides with a housing need survey which is being conducted by Devon Communities Together in the village in June.
Thursday 4th July – The North Devon Rural Housing Enabler will be organising a public meeting at St Mary’s Church, Croyde at 7pm in conjunction with the Parish Council and the Wessex Community Land Trust Project. In Georgeham Parish, which includes Croyde, the Parish Council already have the results of their survey, which supports the provision of up to 18 affordable homes for local people. The purpose of the meeting is to see if there are local people who want to set up a Community Land Trust (CLT). A CLT is a not for profit community organisation set up to provide affordable homes and other community assets for local people. If you wish to know more about either of these events please contact Rural Housing Enabler, Colin Savage by email csavage@devoncommunities.org.uk
Friday 5th July – Hastoe Housing are holding an opening event at their recently completed scheme at Cannomede Cottages, South Tawton. This scheme has provided 6 affordable homes for local people. The event will take place between 12.30 – 2.30pm and will include a visit to the site and a buffet lunch. Mel Stride MP will be attending for the official opening ceremony.