Rural Housing Enabling ServiceDear All
Areas of work 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.)
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.
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;
5. Case studies - East Hanningfield Residents Come Home The sun shone on four happy families in East Hanningfield as they viewed their new homes for the first time on Saturday 7 October, 2006. The homes, completed under the Rural Housing Enabler project by Colne Housing Association, are for shared ownership where the housing association retains a part share of the property and the resident buys the other part. A further eight rented properties for other people from the village will be released shortly. All homes will be ready for occupation in time for Christmas. This scheme, one of a number currently being built across the county, aims to address the ever increasing difficulty that people living in rural villages experience when trying to find affordable housing locally. Working with the community through the parish council, the Rural Housing Enabler carries out a Housing Needs Survey to assess not only the level of need but the size and tenure of accommodation that is most suitable.
One young woman who is moving into one of the shared ownership homes said: “This is my first house and it means that I can stay in the village and live near my parents and my friends, something I didn’t think I would ever be able to afford.”
Parish councillors from settlements of fewer than 3,000 residents who feel there may be a need for affordable housing in their village are invited to contact Moira Groborz, Rural Housing Enabler, to discuss the possibilities by telephoning 0844 4773938, or via email housing@essexrcc.org.uk
Parish Councillors Learn More About Affordable Housing Parish Councillors and clerks from across the county had the opportunity to learn more about the issues of providing affordable housing in rural areas at an event hosted by EALC (Essex Association of Local Councils). The event, held in Great Dunmow on 8 November was chaired by Wendy Lewsey, Deputy Executive Director at Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) and the speakers were Chris Moor, Regional Development Manager for Hastoe Housing Association Simon Latham, former Chair of Thaxted Parish Council and Moira Groborz, Rural Housing Enabler at RCCE.
Following the formal welcome to the participants, Chris and Moira covered a wide range of associated topics, such as: why more affordable housing was needed, particular issues for rural communities, the different types of tenure, the process of developing a scheme and allocating the homes. Time was also allocated to a question and answer session so that those attending had the chance to discuss any particular queries relating to their village.
Simon Latham shared his experience as Chair of Thaxted Parish Council and the response of the local community when the idea of building affordable housing in the village was put forward. Thaxted’s first affordable housing scheme was initially met with some scepticism but once people saw the quality and design of the build families came forward requesting to join the housing needs list. Hastoe Housing Association is about to start the fourth development of this sort in the village which will provide fourteen houses for rent and sixteen for shared ownership for local people.
With affordable rural housing an issue that many villages are currently concerned about, this event provided a chance to meet others with the same issue and gain a deeper understanding of the process. Parish Councillors are invited to contact Moira Groborz, Rural Housing Enabler at RCCE on 0844 4773938, or email housing@essexrcc.org.uk if this is an issue in their village. Click here to download the RCCE Rural Housing Enabling Service leaflet. To view this leaflet you will need a Adobe PDF reader. Please use our Links page to download one if required.
Link to partners
Recent reports
Defra (Rural Social and Community Programme)
Essex County Council
Braintree District Council
Brentwood District Council
Chelmsford District Council
Colchester District Council
Tendring District Council
Circle Anglia Housing Group
Colne Housing Society
English Rural Housing Association
Flagship Housing Group
Hastoe Housing Association |
