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Affordable rural housing

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) has overall responsibility within Government for housing.

In partnership with CLG, Defra is funding a research and good practice project which will support the new Homes and Communities Agency to actively promote delivery of this target in light of the current challenging economic context.

The Government has put in place the framework to deliver affordable housing in rural communities through changes to the planning system, a commitment to increased house building and a prioritisation of resources in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

A major focus of our work has been around supporting delivery of the Government’s target for affordable housing in rural areas.  That target commits the Homes and Communities Agency to deliver at least 10,300 affordable home completions in settlements of less than 3,000 inhabitants over the period 2008-11. This is part of over £8bn pledged for affordable housing - with the target now based on completions to ensure that homes are delivered. Initial numbers on completions in the period 2008-2011 have been promising, with over 6,770 now scheduled for completion.

However, given current market conditions, it is too early to predict outputs with certainty over this time period.

The Government responded to Matthew Taylor’s review of the rural economy and affordable housing on 25 March 2009.

The Review recommends Masterplanning as a better way forward to expand market towns and villages than allowing piecemeal development round their edges. The Review offers some good examples, including Poundbury. This is an exciting recommendation and Defra together with CLG will be making funding available for an exemplar project that can be run as a challenge fund. More details will be announced shortly. The Government will wish to work with rural planning bodies to make sure this approach is properly understood, and widely used. 

Taylor report

In 2007, Matthew Taylor MP was asked by the Prime Minister to review the rural economy, and the availability of affordable rural housing.  He consulted widely, visited all parts of England (and the Scottish Highlands) and his Review (‘Living Working Countryside’) was published in July 2008. His Review covers a wide range of topics, and makes 48 recommendations.

The Government response (issued on 25 March 2009) is part of a series to contribute to the streamlining of the Planning System.

  • We have made a first response to the Killian Pretty Review proposals, and have more work to do this year.
  • Taylor emphasises the importance of the rural economies, no less than the urban ones. They aren’t that different anyway.
  • a new planning policy statement  (PPS4) setting out a comprehensive approach for planning for sustainable economic growth in all parts of the country was published for consultation on 5 May 2009.
  • During the rest of the year, we will be issuing draft Regulations to implement the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Page last modified: 12 June 2008
Page published: 20 September 2006