On 20 March 2025, Cambridgeshire ACRE welcomed Daniel Zeichner MP, Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for a visit to the recently completed Rural Exception Site in Newton, South Cambridgeshire. The visit was part of a wider day celebrating rural initiatives across the county supported by Defra.

Led by our Rural Housing Enabler, Gary Roffey, the Minister was given a tour of the new affordable housing development on Harston Road. The site provides six homes for affordable rent and two for shared ownership, all prioritised for local people with strong ties to the village. The development was delivered in partnership with Cambridge Housing Society, Newton Parish Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Gary shared insights into the importance of early engagement with parish councils and the role our Housing Needs Survey played in demonstrating local need. The 2019 survey showed strong support for affordable homes in the village and identified specific housing needs that informed the final scheme.

The Minister also heard about some of the challenges rural schemes face, including difficulties in acquiring suitable land, higher building costs due to smaller scale and the time it can take to bring a scheme from survey to completion. Newton’s development took over four years to deliver, highlighting the need for consistent and long-term support.

The homes, completed in December 2023, are designed to be energy efficient, with features such as solar panels and air source heat pumps. Residents have already moved in and are enjoying the high-quality homes and beautiful village setting.

During the visit, Daniel Zeichner MP met with members of the Parish Council, representatives from CHS Group and local residents. He also spoke with CHS’s New Build Quality Manager, Nathan Ellis, about the challenges of sourcing skilled tradespeople for rural construction projects.

Hayley Neal, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire ACRE, said:

“We were delighted to welcome the Minister to Newton. It was an opportunity to show the real difference that affordable rural housing makes to local people and to celebrate what can be achieved through collaboration and perseverance. These homes are helping people stay close to family, work and community. They reflect our belief that every rural village should be a place where people of all ages and incomes can live well.”

Hayley also thanked the Minister for the extension of Defra funding for the Rural Housing Enabler Programme, which supports Cambridgeshire ACRE’s work in delivering affordable homes across rural communities.

This visit was a chance to reflect on the vital role affordable housing and community facilities play in keeping rural villages thriving and to highlight how national investment can unlock local opportunity.

To find out more about our rural housing work, or if your parish is considering a similar scheme, visit our Rural Housing page or contact us for a further discussion.