A ‘can-do’ approach to delivering affordable homes
The ‘can do’ approach of Wealden councillors and officers in providing solutions to affordable housing needs in rural areas has been praised by a Commission set up by the Government to examine this national problem.
The report by the Affordable Rural Housing Commission, published last month, highlighted the achievements of the HOPE project in using planning policy opportunities to allocate sites for affordable housing in 12 Wealden villages.
Housing Corporation funding has now been secured for five of the sites which should deliver 30 of over 100 hoped-for affordable homes in a district characterised by high house prices.
Wealden was one of eight English authorities which, says the report, displayed: “a commitment across the whole authority to meeting rural affordable housing needs.”
“Responsibility was shared and supported by officers and councillors who seemed to foster a ‘can do’ approach and a willingness to innovate and trial new approaches,” it added.
“We are grateful for the support of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission who visited us last October, “ said Councillor Mrs Margaret Kirkpatrick, Wealden’s Cabinet Member for Housing & Community Development.
“What has been crucial in delivering much-needed affordable housing in Wealden has been the overall ‘can do’ attitude and the partnership working with the parish councils who have worked with us.
“Allocating sites for affordable homes in our villages can lead to opposition in some quarters. But, as the Commission chair Elinor Goodman says, villages and country towns must be allowed to evolve in the way they did in the past – they can’t just be preserved in aspic.
“The Commission calls for at least 11,000 rural affordable homes to be built nationally each year. Last year’s Wealden Housing Needs survey showed an annual shortfall of affordable housing just in our district of 874 homes. We cannot escape the seriousness of the situation for those people, young and old, who are at the wrong end of the income ladder.”
