Rural Housing Enabler
1. To raise awareness of local housing need and the means to tackle them
Parish Councils may be aware of a need for affordable housing
but not know how to help, others think there might be a need but have
no factual evidence of it. By carrying out a Housing Needs Survey (HNS)
the Rural Housing Enabler can work with the Parish Council to find out
how many people living within the parish need housing and determine the
type of accommodation would be most appropriate. People may need to
move to a smaller or larger house or have children who will be
requiring a home of their own in the future. It could be that a friend
or relative has moved away to find affordable housing but would like to
return. Housing Needs Surveys are used to support planning
applications on ‘exception sites’ (A plot of land abutting the
development boundary of the village which may be granted planning
permission for no purpose other than affordable housing.)
To find out more, email Moira Groborz
2. To facilitate the provision of affordable housing
Many organisations and people are involved in developing an
affordable housing scheme. Because all these organisations have a stake
in building houses sometimes it is necessary to have an impartial party
who can act as a go-between without favour. The Rural Housing Enabler
is employed by the Rural Community Council of Essex to provide this
important liaison role. This means that everyone can be sure that the
interests of the people in need of housing will be foremost.
3. To influence local, sub regional and regional strategies that impact on affordable housing
Working in partnership with statutory and voluntary sector
organisations the Rural Housing Enabler can ensure that the issue of
affordable rural housing is kept as a high priority. With the local
on-the-ground knowledge the Rural Housing Enabler can feed Essex views
and difficulties into sub-regional and regional forums.
EXAMPLES OF FORUMS
- London Commuter Belt Rural Housing Group
- Greater Haven Gateway Housing Enablers Group
- Rural Housing Enabler Advisory Group
- Regional RHE Network
4. To address other housing issues of local concern
Whilst working with communities on affordable rural housing
other issues may arise. The Rural Housing Enabler can help to address
these in a number of ways;
- Feed into the appropriate forum or through contact with other organizations interested in these matters
- Develop as a special project to highlight the issue
- Work with the Rural Community Council of Essex fieldwork team either on a countywide basis or at district level
- Share good practice with parish councils, other Rural Housing Enablers and local authorities.
Affordable Rural Housing for Local People: Information Pack
Affordable housing Introduction.pdf
The Role of the Rural Housing Enabler.pdf
The Process.pdf
Exception site.pdf
Benefits to the community.pdf
What is a Housing association.pdf
FAQ.pdf
Abbrevs & Jargon.pdf
Partner Organisations.pdf