As a Rural Housing Enabler, I help rural communities secure homes that sustain village life.

 

I help rural communities ensure people can stay and thrive locally by enabling access to genuinely affordable housing. This means villages can remain balanced and inclusive, rather than losing younger people or key workers who cannot find suitable homes.

I work closely with parish councils, housing associations and residents to understand local need and turn that into deliverable projects. This involves analysing housing needs survey data, exploring potential sites and building consensus so proposals reflect both practical constraints and community priorities. By walking sites and listening to local views, I help identify options that are realistic and locally supported.

This work matters because without intervention, rural housing pressures can weaken communities over time. Limited supply and rising costs risk making villages less sustainable and less representative of those who live and work there. By supporting communities to shape development themselves, Cambridgeshire ACRE helps ensure housing growth responds to local need while protecting what makes rural places distinct.

A moment that mattered to me

“Reading comments within housing needs surveys, I see first-hand accounts of people struggling without access to affordable housing. These reflections highlight the real human impact behind the data and reinforce why persistent, careful work to bring forward viable housing solutions is so important.”