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01. Why is the Rural Housing Service needed?
Over recent years Buckinghamshire’s rural communities have seen young people and families priced out of local homes – forced to move away from friends, families, and jobs.
With a shrinking stock of social housing, those unable to access homeownership have to turn to the private rented sector, where costs are high and tenancies insecure. Many rural communities struggle to fill vacancies and maintain services such as local schools, pubs, and shops.
More small, local affordable housing is needed to support rural life.
Over the 3-year period between April 2020 and March 2023, median rent levels increased by 16% in Buckinghamshire (reference)
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show full-time employees in Buckinghamshire could expect to spend 11.6 times their annual earnings on purchasing a home in 2023 (...) Last year in England, a house cost 8.3 times the average wage (reference)
02. How can our Rural Housing Enabler help?
Our Rural Housing Enabler can support communities who want to build small numbers of affordable housing for their residents, working with them to identify local housing need, find a suitable site, get a planning permission and build the homes.
We work with local people, parish councils, the local planning department and housing associations. Local communities identify a site that may not usually get planning permission but could be used for affordable housing (known as a Rural Exception site). This must meet local needs identified by a communities housing needs survey.
This allows small rural housing schemes to be delivered at a reduced land cost, with new homes prioritised for those with a strong local connection to the area.
Find out more about the Rural Housing Enabler Programme on ACRE’s website.
Does your community need affordable housing?
Find out how we can help your community deliver local affordable housing. Contact Ashleigh Stent, our Rural Housing Enabler by emailing info@communityimpactbucks.org.uk or by calling 0330 236 9350.
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