At the end of annual Rural Housing Week, Cambridgeshire ACRE’s Rural Housing Enablers, Gary Roffey and Russell Moore, reflect on why affordable rural housing matters more than ever.

 

As Rural Housing Week draws to a close, we’ve really enjoyed seeing the examples, data and stories being shared by colleagues across the country. Of particular interest to us were two new national reports that shine a spotlight on the long-term value of affordable rural housing, as well as fresh statistics from CPRE and a call from the Rural Services Network for a dedicated Rural Housing Strategy.

Safer Roots, Stronger Communities – English Rural
The Case for Affordable Rural Housing – Longleigh Foundation

These publications paint a clear picture: rural housing is in crisis, but solutions exist if we choose to act. CPRE’s analysis, for example, shows that over 231,000 households in rural England are on waiting lists for social housing, yet fewer than 850 social rent homes were delivered in the countryside last year. At this rate, it would take more than 80 years to meet current demand.

It’s a picture we know well in Cambridgeshire.

The Rural Services Network echoed this concern, calling for national policies that are properly “rural-proofed”. They argue rural areas need their own housing strategy, not just to reflect the higher costs and planning hurdles, but also to ensure rural voices aren’t lost in wider urban-focused policy decisions.

Every year, we work with parish councils, housing associations and local authorities to identify rural housing need and bring forward small-scale, locally supported developments, often through the Rural Exception Site policy. These homes are life-changing: They enable families to stay close to work, older people to remain in their villages and younger generations to put down roots near support networks.

The English Rural report in particular highlights the role of housing in reducing rural crime and building safer, more resilient communities. We see this in practice. A settled population with a stake in the local area tends to invest more time in community activity, take pride in shared spaces and support their neighbours. That’s the rural strength we’re trying to protect and nurture.

The Longleigh Foundation’s research shows the stark mismatch between housing need and housing delivery in the countryside. This gap won’t close without strong local partnerships and that’s where Cambridgeshire ACRE plays a vital role. We help communities identify need, navigate the planning process and shape housing schemes that genuinely reflect local priorities.

Our recent project in Eltisley is a great example of this in action, demonstrating how local need, local leadership and the right support can deliver high-quality, affordable homes in even the smallest communities.

Read the full case study here.

These national messages strongly echo our experience on the ground. Affordable rural homes like those in Eltisley don’t just meet housing need, they protect the fabric of village life. As the National Housing Federation highlighted last week, affordable housing in small settlements is essential to keeping services, schools and shops viable. Their research shows that building just 10 new affordable homes in a village supports 26 local jobs and adds over £1.4 million to the local economy.

As we reflect on Rural Housing Week, we’re encouraging planners, councillors and local leaders to read these reports and ask: “What more can we do to support affordable homes in our villages?”

We’ve got the tools, the policies and the partnerships. And now, thanks to these new reports, we’ve got a growing body of evidence to back us. What we need next is the shared will, from planners, funders and communities alike, to deliver.

 

Want to find out more or talk about a potential scheme in your village? Get in touch.