One year after the publication of the report by the Affordable Rural Housing Commission on 17 May 2006, CPRE [1] is urging the Government to redouble its efforts to secure enough permanently affordable housing where it is really needed in rural communities.

CPRE has found some hopeful signs [2] that policies and planning decisions are being made which mean that more affordable houses are available for those who need them without compromising on the quality of design or damaging the countryside.

But further progress will depend on enough resources being made available to local authorities and housing providers [3].  Clear leadership by Government is also required, with a focus on providing the right housing in the right places, rather than falling back on the discredited ‘predict and provide’ approach.

‘If the Government is serious about the provision of urgently needed affordable housing for rural communities, it should use the planning system to deliver it,’ said Tom Oliver, Head of Rural Policy at CPRE. 

‘Planning can reconcile the need for affordable houses with pressure to build market housing and legitimate concerns to avoid damaging development.  And it can encourage the construction of houses which have lower running costs through good design,’ he continued.

CPRE urges the Government to seize the great opportunity for affordable houses to set exemplary standards in terms of design and energy efficiency, with all affordable housing carbon neutral before the Government’s own target date of 2016.

Examples of policies and projects designed to tackle the problem successfully include:

· Mid Suffolk District Council and Suffolk Preservation Society: an exemplar RIBA design competition scheme is delivering 23 homes in Elmswell, Mid Suffolk, demonstrating that both high quality design and sustainable technologies can be achieved in affordable homes;

· Babergh District Council in Suffolk has achieved at least 30% of all new homes as affordable housing;

· South Oxfordshire District Council has carried out the first ever Empty Dwelling Management Order, which will allow the Council to take on the management of a two bedroom house which has lain empty for 10 years and been abandoned by the owner;

· Ashford Unitary Authority is proposing a new policy which will ensure that a low threshold of three houses in any housing scheme in villages and rural areas will trigger a requirement that one third of the houses are affordable;

· Guildford Borough Council have recently secured 12 permanently affordable houses in the village of Normandy near Guildford, provided through the Greenoak Housing Association. The site also includes vital services such as a GP surgery and all the houses are built to Eco-Homes Excellent standard.

Tom Oliver concluded:

‘We all have a part to play to achieve the objectives set by the Affordable Rural Housing Commission last year.  We welcome the establishment of the Rural Housing Advisory Group which meets for the first time later in May [4].  CPRE intends to play its part in reminding central Government and local authorities of their responsibilities and helping, wherever we can on the ground, to deliver genuinely sustainable affordable houses where they are needed.’

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NOTES FOR EDITORS
 
1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2.  Registered Social Landlord and Local Authority housing completions totalled 20,613 in 2006, up 17.6% on 2005. Source: DCLG/National Housebuilding Council (NHBC).

3.  Recent regional affordable housing figures include:

· East Midlands: 2005/6 - 2,079 affordable homes completed (147% up on 2004/5 but only 53% of annual target);

· West Midlands: 2005/6 - 3,901 affordable homes completed (3% up on 2004/5 but only 60% of indicative annual target);

· North West: 2005/6 - 3,105 affordable homes completed (22.7% up on 2004/5, but still below the average of the last 6 years);

· East of England: the region has delivered only 13% of total new build as affordable homes over last six years (2001-6). However, the total of affordable home completions in 2005/6 is double that achieved in 2001/2. The regional expectation is for 35% affordable dwellings overall.

4. The Rural Housing Advisory Group was set up at the request of Housing Minister Yvette Cooper. It will be overseen by the Housing Corporation and meets for the first time on 27 May.