Government boost for more rural homes

Housing Minister John Healey and Rural Affairs Minister Lord Davies have named 36 rural councils that will benefit from expert support to help design and plan up to 10,000 new homes. A large proportion of these homes will be affordable for local people, giving a boost to rural businesses and helping village schools, shops and pubs stay open.

It is the first time that rural councils have received dedicated funding to help design and plan new development that will support the local needs of rural communities. The councils receiving funding were selected through a planning and design competition.

The 36 councils with the best ideas for rural towns and villages will share £1m funding for expert advice to build 10,000 high quality homes that will help local people stay where they want to live, and give a boost to local businesses by ensuring local staff can live close by.

The £1m fund jointly provided by Communities and Local Government and Defra will provide expert assistance and training on masterplanning and urban design. The councils that have been successful are receiving funds ranging from £4,000 to £70,000 to support work on projects, including:

• £70,000 to develop a masterplan for 1000 homes, a school, businesses and recreation space in North Northallerton;
• £30,000 to prepare a masterplan to redevelop the historic Bolton Copperworks site near the village of Froghall, and kickstart the regeneration of the Churnet Valley;
• £50,000 for masterplanning expertise to redevelop the Churchfields Estate west of Salisbury, providing 1,100 homes, a neighbourhood centre, a primary school, open space and land for businesses. The site will deliver much needed homes for the area of which around 40 per cent will be affordable.

John Healey said:

"We know a lack of affordable homes for local people is acute in rural communities. People have to be able to stay in the countryside for rural areas to prosper. That is why we’re backing rural councils with funding for the skills to provide homes young families can afford, where they want to live.

"Local authorities should make the most of the expertise on offer to design and plan for affordable homes for local people that are built to a high standard, and are linked to new opportunities for jobs so rural towns and villages can thrive."

Successful councils will develop masterplans for new neighbourhoods and existing areas of towns, making the most of current buildings and creating more attractive and vibrant places for people to live.

Defra Minister Lord Davies of Oldham said:

"Available houses at affordable prices are essential for a rural community. The support from this fund and the expert help available to the successful authorities will help build those houses as well as making sure that services and jobs are located where they are most needed for rural areas to secure a thriving future and strong local economies."

Winning bids include training to deliver the highest standards of design that will make it easier for people to work from home in rural communities, and ensure new businesses, shops and schools are located near where people live.

Winning projects will share best practice with other rural regions of the country, building capacity and skills that will bring forward high quality rural development across the country.

The masterplan funding is the latest stage in the Governments plans to help rural communities thrive by providing more affordable housing and greater freedom to develop strong local economies.

Matthew Taylor, who produced the Taylor Review into rural housing and economies said:

"This announcement is another step in implementing my recommendations in "Living Working countryside". It is about sustaining rural communities with well designed affordable homes meeting local needs. The experience gained from these rural community projects, backed today by a million pound Government investment, will help shape a more sustainable future for rural England."