Photo credit to: Matt Pereira Photography
Abi and her partner Gabriel moved no less than five times in four years before they got lucky and secured an affordable rented property in Glebe Meadow; a small-scale, community-led development championed by Roxwell Parish Council and built by housing association, English Rural. Having a place to call home, where they enjoy the security of a 25-year tenancy agreement and rent capped at less than 80% of market rates has enabled them to settle in the village where Abi grew up and start a family.
Commenting on their new home, Abi said, “It’s so nice to be back in
Roxwell because ultimately, it’s home. And financially, it’s put us in a
much more secure position as before we were paying about £500 more on
private rent”.
Abi and Gabriel’s story is featured as part of a short film prepared by
Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) which is calling for
more community-led solutions to the housing crisis in rural areas.
Launched as part of Rural Housing Week,
the charity hopes the example of what Roxwell has achieved will inspire
other rural communities to investigate, plan and build new homes that
meet local needs.
ACRE has a network
of 38 local charities in every rural county of England, almost all of
whom provide independent facilitation for groups wanting to develop
affordable housing schemes locally.
Laura Atkinson is a Rural Housing Enabler with the Rural Community
Council of Essex (RCCE). She played an instrumental role helping Roxwell
Parish Council engage residents to identify local needs and brokering
relationships with planners and the housing association which went on to
develop the scheme at Glebe Meadow.
Speaking on film, Laura said, “It’s vital there are homes that are
affordable to everyone in rural areas. Land values and house prices
remain incredibly high, especially at the moment, post-Covid. And the
gap between rural property prices and local wages continues to widen.
Coupled with higher costs of living and rising energy prices, this
leaves many unable to remain where they grew up or have support
networks. I would really encourage any community looking to assess their
affordable housing need to get in touch. We can help.”
According to recent government statistics*, the most affordable homes in
rural areas cost 9.6 times earnings compared to 8 times earnings in
urban areas, excluding London. In Chelmsford District, of which Roxwell
is part, residents can expect to pay nearly 12 times their earnings for
the most affordable homes.
Glebe Meadow is regarded as a success story by English Rural who built
the new homes which includes five dwellings at affordable rent, plus two
discounted market sale properties, all of which are now occupied by
people with a connection to the local area.
Alison Thompson, Deputy Development Director at English Rural said: “We
are delighted to have completed this much-needed scheme in Essex.
Affordable rural developments provide a secure and safe place for local
people to live, in the communities they serve and support. The
affordable homes at Glebe Meadow will play an important role in
safeguarding a vibrant, active, and working village that includes a
mixture of age groups and income earners.”