DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (176/07) issued by
The Government News Network on 14 June 2007
Defra will begin
researching a new funding programme to increase affordable rural
housing, Barry Gardiner, Minister for Rural Affairs, announced today.
The feasibility study will be funded by Defra and led by the
Housing Corporation. It will consider the case for a new time
limited funding programme to help local organisations to overcome
local barriers to the provision of affordable homes in rural areas.
Barry Gardiner launched the study at the Commission for Rural
Communities "Affordable Rural Housing Commission - One Year
On" Conference. The conference marks the anniversary of the
publication of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission's
final report. This highlighted the shortage of affordable rural
housing and came forward with practical solutions to improve access.
Mr Gardiner said:
"I have asked the Housing Corporation to look into how a new
fund could improve provision of affordable housing in rural areas.
I want this research to focus on outcomes rather than processes. I
want to know exactly how such a fund could achieve increased
provision of affordable rural homes where they are needed, promote
best practice and overcome local barriers.
"The fund would be designed to empower people to work out
what is best for their particular parts of rural England rather
than take decisions for them. Local people know best what their
particular problems are and how best to overcome them.
"The next milestone at the national level will be the
Comprehensive Spending Review - where the provision of social
housing has been identified as a priority."
If the study shows that a new funding programme is needed,
funding would be subject to the Comprehensive Spending Review,
which will report later this year.
The latest figures suggest that good progress has been made in
the provision if new affordable homes in rural areas, and the
government wants to build on this. In 2005/06 almost 45,000 new
units of affordable housing were provided across England. 23% of
these new units were provided in rural local authority areas,
which mirrors the proportion of the population living in rural areas.
Any potential new funding programme will not dictate solutions
but will empower local organisations to find their own answers.
This could include new approaches based on local conditions and
knowledge or existing mechanisms, such as Rural Housing Enablers.
Responding to the Affordable Rural Housing Commission's
recommendations, the Housing Corporation has also recently set up
the Rural Housing Advisory Group, which is looking at innovative
ways to increase the supply of affordable homes in rural areas.
Notes to editors
1. The Housing Corporation will be working over the summer to
see if such a programme is called for, and if so, possible
programme design options.
2. Rural Housing Enablers (RHEs) work with rural communities,
local authorities, landowners, and housing associations to help
identify village housing needs and find appropriate solutions.
RHEs are currently funded through Defra's Rural Social and
Community Programme until 31st March 2008.
3. The Government's on-going response to the final report of
the Affordable Rural Housing Commission can be found on the joint
Defra/Communities and Local Government Affordable Rural Housing
website http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/arh/index.htm
The site is updated every three months.
4. The Rural Housing Advisory Group will report annually to
Communities and Local Government. The group is chaired by Candy
Atherton, Board member of the Housing Corporation with lead
responsibility for rural housing. Members include former
Affordable Rural Housing Commission (ARHC) commissioners,
representatives of rural interest groups such as the Commission
for Rural Communities and experts in housing delivery.
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