Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) is calling on housing providers, landowners, local authorities and parish councils to work more closely with rural housing enablers to help deliver the affordable homes rural communities urgently need.
The call comes during Rural Housing Week, as ACRE highlights the growing pressure facing hamlets, villages and small market towns, where local people are increasingly priced out of the places where they grew up, work or have family support.
As part of a programme funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), ACRE coordinates a national network of rural housing enablers (RHEs), working through 35 of its 37 member charities across England to help communities identify local housing need and bring forward small-scale, locally supported affordable housing schemes.
Rural housing enablers act as independent advisers, bringing together residents, parish councils, landowners, local authorities, housing associations and developers to explore what is needed locally and how suitable schemes can be delivered. Their role is becoming increasingly important as rural communities face acute affordability challenges.
House prices in rural areas have risen by 29 per cent in the last five years, compared with 21 per cent in urban areas.
The income to house-price ratio is also higher in rural areas, at 8.8x earnings compared with 7.6x in urban areas, making rural housing notably less affordable for people on lower incomes.
Rural homelessness has also grown by 40 per cent since 2018/19, underlining the need for practical, locally-led action to increase the supply of affordable homes. Evaluation of the Defra-funded RHE programme found that since 2023, rural housing enablers have supported a pipeline of over 400 rural housing schemes, equating to more than 3,000 potential affordable new homes, with the programme recently being extended to 2029.
The evaluation also found that the programme generated significant social value, with every £1 invested estimated to generate £3.30 in social outcome benefits.
Patrick Mahon, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at ACRE, said:
“Rural Housing Week is an important opportunity to not only shine a light on the reality facing many rural communities today, but also show, that with the help and support of our network of rural housing enablers, we have the power to deliver real and meaningful change. “Too many people are being priced out of the places they call home, with consequences not only for individuals and families, but for the long-term sustainability of villages, local services and rural economies.
“The Defra-funded rural housing enabler programme shows what can be achieved when communities have access to trusted, independent support. “RHEs understand local concerns, help identify the needs of specific communities and bring the right partners together to explore small-scale affordable housing, tailored to each community.
“Rural affordable housing is not about large-scale development. It is about meeting local need, supporting sustainable communities and making sure people who live, work or have family ties in rural areas have a fair chance of staying there. “Rural housing enablers are there to help make those conversations possible and we want to see more housing providers, landowners, local authorities and parish councils engaging with them to unlock suitable sites, build trust with communities and deliver the affordable homes that rural areas need.”
Affordable rural housing schemes can help young families remain close to support networks and enable older residents to stay in their communities, while having a positive impact on the local economy.
West Farm Close in the Cambridgeshire village of Eltisley is a successful nine-home affordable development delivered by ACRE and Hastoe Housing Association. The new neighbourhood, which was only made possible thanks to the efforts of local RHEs, is now home to married couple Patrick and Amanda Fox, who moved from private rented accommodation into an adapted bungalow due to retired builder Patrick’s mobility issues.
Patrick said: “This move has been life changing. It feels like we’ve won the lottery. “The house is perfect, as if it’s been made for us. At our stage of life, it’s now our forever home.”