NEWS RELEASES
Affordable housing - action plan for rural areas
10th July 2007
HORSHAM District Council’s last Cabinet meeting (14 June) has agreed that the Council, with Action in Rural Sussex, will develop a rural affordable housing strategy for the Horsham District.
The strategy is being developed to help address concerns such as young people not being able to afford to live in the rural communities in which they grew up and essential workers to the local economy such as teachers being priced out of the rural housing market.
Consultation will take place with parish councils and local communities and their help will be asked in drawing up the document.
The delivery of affordable housing in rural villages is very sensitive.
Fear of being swamped by a new housing and people, concerns over the quality of design and construction, and the stigma about the nature of ‘affordable housing’ all contribute to resistance to development proposals despite the growing need for affordable housing in these areas.
It is hoped that the development of the strategy will provide the opportunity for discussion about rural affordable housing - what it means to people, why the Horsham District needs it and how it can best be delivered.
The aim is that once the work is complete it will help enable the provision of affordable housing for local people in rural communities as well as contributing to the economic and social wellbeing of the villages.
Speaking of the work - which is about to begin - Cllr Andrew Baldwin, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Support at Horsham District Council, said:
“The provision of affordable housing not only relates to the individual needs of rural people but also to the future of our villages in terms of their ability to sustain essential local services and generate local employment.
“Young people in our rural areas can no longer afford to live in the communities in which they grew up and are forced away – whether they like it or not.
“We are also seeing our villages increasingly become the exclusive preserve of people who can afford very high house prices.
“And we can add to this the fact that some of our essential workers such as post office managers and local trades people can no longer afford accommodation in many rural areas.
“These are some of the reasons why we are undertaking this important piece of work.”
The Horsham District rural affordable housing strategy is due for completion in autumn 2007.
Further information about affordable housing is available from Emma Marrington at Horsham District Council on 01403 215202 or email: housing@horsham.gov.uk
Ends
Note to editors:
Action in Rural Sussex – Rural Housing Enabler Project
The project aims are:
- To act as an "honest broker" to facilitate the often lengthy and complex process of developing affordable housing schemes in rural areas to encourage sustainable communities.
- To meet the needs of those people who would not be able to afford accommodation on the open market
- To work closely with village communities, Parish Councils, District Councils, Housing Associations, landowners, farmers and anyone else involved in the process of providing affordable housing
- To identify local need through housing needs surveys
- To carry out research, policy analysis, and lobbying on rural housing issues
- To promote wider initiatives such as the use of empty properties, foyer schemes and meeting needs for supported housing.
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk