Worcestershire Rural Housing

The Worcestershire Rural Housing Enabler Project was formed in 2000 to address the need for affordable housing in the villages of Worcestershire. The Project is hosted and managed by Community First and reports to the Worcestershire Affordable Rural Housing Steering Group which is made up of representatives from 7 Housing Associations, 4 Local Authorities, Worcestershire County Council, Homes and Communities Agency and Worcestershire CALC.

As a result of this Project, Parish Councils and local communities have been successfully working with Community First's Worcestershire Rural Housing Enabler, Nigel Potter, to carry out an ambitious programme of Parish Housing Needs Surveys in rural areas across the district. Copies of these survey reports are available upon request.

The RHE works in the villages covered by four of the rural Local Authority areas of Worcestershire. Following the completion of a Housing Needs Survey, the RHE specifically works in partnership with the Parish Council to provide support on opportunities for bringing forward potential rural exceptions sites, where planning is only given because there is a demonstrable need for affordable housing in that area. The planning consent gained on these sites restricts the housing for local people in housing need.

One of the aims of the Project is to have a consistent approach to exception site land values to ensure that rural housing schemes are viable and affordable. The rents charged on affordable rented homes are capped according to the Homes and Communities Agency's Rent Policy. Affordable rented homes on exception sites are exempt from the 'Right to Acquire', and mutual exchanges are limited to people with a local connection. The cost of shared ownership housing can vary but Housing Associations work hard on their rural schemes to make sure that the sale prices and residual rents are affordable to local people, reflecting the information from the village needs survey.

The funding members of the Worcestershire Rural Housing Enabler Project consists of 4 Local Authorities, 7 Housing Associations and Worcestershire County Council.

The Local Authorities have a strategic housing responsibility to meet housing needs and oversee the allocation of affordable housing. The Rural Housing Enabler, based at Wychavon District Council (Mon/Tues) and Malvern Hills District Council (Weds/Thurs), works closely with Parish Councils and local communities to facilitate the provision of affordable housing. The Homes and Communities Agency is the Government agency responsible for investing in new affordable homes across England.

For information on affordable rural housing in Worcestershire contact Nigel Potter, Worcestershire Rural Housing Enabler for Worcestershire;

Wychavon Office 01386 565521 or Malvern Office: 01684 862373, Email: nigel.potter@comfirst.org.uk

http://www.comfirst.org.uk/files/achieving_excellence_flyer_(4).pdf

For the new NHF/ACRE publication "Affordable Housing Keeps Villages Alive" go to http://www.housing.org.uk/default.aspx?tabid=289&mid=2076&ctl=Details&ArticleID=3085

For ACRE’s policy paper on Housing go to
http://www.acre.org.uk/DOCUMENTS/publications/Policypositionpapers/Housing.pdf

Current Survey Downloads

Clent Survey

Bentley Survey

Lickey Survey

Stock and Bradley Survey

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