The charity, which is funded by Defra as part of a national scheme to help boost the supply of new, affordable homes across England, employs two Rural Housing Enablers, who work with communities to support the development of affordable housing schemes. The enablers help identify suitable development opportunities in communities, and support site owners and local council representatives to navigate the planning system and create developments in rural areas that meet the needs of local people.

As part of its work, Cambridgeshire ACRE recently organised a bus tour for local councillors to show them what well-built, affordable homes can look like, to help ‘bust the myths’ around rural affordable housing and to demonstrate how new homes can add value to a rural community.

20 town and parish councillors joined the bus which took them to visit two sites in Huntingdonshire (at Colne and Bluntisham) and two in South Cambridgeshire (at Swavesey and Willingham) that Cambridgeshire ACRE has facilitated so they could see for themselves how a small development of affordable homes can blend seamlessly into an existing residential area, providing much-needed homes for local people who already have a connection to the village through family or work.

Hayley Neal, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire ACRE said: “We cannot just build new homes in our towns and cities, we must also build in our rural communities if the countryside is to become the thriving place it deserves to be. The Mythbuster Tour is a great way for us to showcase the importance of rural affordable housing to a local council audience and we hope that those who’ve been on today’s tour will work with us going forward to explore developing new affordable housing in their own villages.”

Cllr John Batchelor, Lead Cabinet member for Housing at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We are pleased to support this important event as the need for affordable housing in rural areas is more pressing than ever. Affordable housing is a vital cornerstone for sustainable communities ensuring families can stay close to their roots. In addition, it supports our local workforce and strengthens the bonds that define rural life. As a Council, by prioritising affordable housing, we are committing to a future where everyone, regardless of income, has the opportunity to thrive in the place they call home.”

Rural community members interested in exploring affordable housing developments further are encouraged to visit the housing and planning page of Cambridgeshire ACRE’s website for more information.