By Hayley Neal, Chief Executive, Cambridgeshire ACRE

As Rural Housing Week 2026 draws to a close, Cambridgeshire ACRE’s Chief Executive, Hayley Neal, reflects on what the week’s conversations have reinforced: that rural affordable housing is about far more than bricks and mortar. In this personal blog, she explores why homes for local people are essential to the long-term future of thriving rural communities.

Why rural affordable housing is about more than housing

As Rural Housing Week 2026 comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the conversations we have had throughout the week.

As Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire ACRE, I spend a lot of time discussing housing. I meet with parish councils, landowners, housing associations and local authorities. We talk about housing need surveys, development sites and planning policies.

But the truth is that rural affordable housing is not really about housing.

It is about people.

Over the years, residents have shared stories that stay with me long after the statistics have been forgotten.

“I grew up here, my family is here and I work locally. But I can’t afford to buy or rent in the village.”

 

“My daughter wants to stay near family, but there are no affordable homes available.”

 

“Most of my friends have already left because they couldn’t afford to stay.”

 

These stories are repeated across villages throughout Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

When local people cannot afford to stay in the communities they know and love, the impact reaches far beyond housing. Families become separated. Local employers struggle to recruit. Schools lose pupils. Community groups lose volunteers.

Over time, villages can become less balanced and less resilient.

That is why affordable housing matters.

Not because of the bricks and mortar, but because of the opportunities it creates for people to remain part of community life.

Throughout Rural Housing Week, we have highlighted the role that parish councils, landowners, housing associations and local authorities can play in helping meet local housing need. We have shared examples of successful schemes and discussed the challenges that remain.

What has struck me most is the shared desire to see rural communities thrive.

At Cambridgeshire ACRE, we don’t build homes ourselves. Instead, we work alongside parish councils, local authorities, housing associations and landowners to help communities understand local need, explore opportunities and bring the right people together.

It affects wellbeing. It affects local economies. It affects whether people can stay close to family and support networks. It affects whether villages remain places where people of different ages and incomes can live alongside one another.

As Rural Housing Week comes to an end, I keep coming back to the voices behind the statistics.

The young person who wants to stay in the village where they grew up.

The family trying to remain close to grandparents.

The local worker who cannot afford to live near their job.

They are the reason this work matters.

Because ultimately, rural affordable housing is about much more than housing.

It is about ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to live, work and belong in the communities they call home.

Continuing the conversation

Rural Housing Week may be coming to an end, but the conversation about the future of our rural communities continues.

If your parish council would like to better understand local housing need, or you’re interested in exploring how affordable housing could help your community remain vibrant and sustainable, we’d love to hear from you.

Find out more about Cambridgeshire ACRE’s Rural Housing Enabler service or contact Gary Roffey, on 01353 865031 or email gary.roffey@cambsacre.org.uk or Russell Moore, on 01353 865040 or email russell.moore@cambsacre.org.uk.