An article examined the delivery of housing association rented homes in rural Scotland, and whether deficiencies related to policy weakness or implementation problems.
Source: Madhu Satsangi, '"The best laid plans "? An assessment of housing association provision in rural Scotland', Policy & Politics, Volume 34 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Oct
A study examined the housing and support needs of older people in rural areas. Meeting needs in the variety of circumstances found in different rural areas required specific and tailored approaches which were often more difficult and costly than in urban areas.
Source: Mark Bevan, Karen Croucher, David Rhodes, Peter Fletcher and Moyra Riseborough, The Housing and Support Needs of Older People in Rural Areas, Centre for Housing Policy/University of York (01904 433691)
Date: 2006-Jun
An inquiry report highlighted concern and frustration within rural communities at the lack of effective action to address their housing problems. It also set out recommendations for addressing rural people's concerns and aspirations for the future. A linked discussion paper said that 14-19,000 affordable homes were needed each year for five years in order to meet expected new housing needs.
Source: Rural Housing: A place in the countryside?, Commission for Rural Communities/Countryside Agency (020 7340 2900) | Calculating Housing Needs in Rural England, Commission for Rural Communities/Countryside Agency
Links: Inquiry report | Summary | Discussion paper | CRC press release
Date: 2006-May
A report (by an official commission) examined the scale, nature and implications of the shortage of affordable housing for rural communities in England. It said that much good work was already being done: but to meet the scale of the need, the issue needed to be addressed in its own right, and with urgency, rather than only after urban needs had been met. It called for a big increase in subsidized housing for low-income households.
Source: Final Report, Affordable Rural Housing Commission (020 7238 6000)
Links: Report | Summary | DCLG press release | RHT press release | BSA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-May
A report said that building new affordable housing offered the greatest value for money in terms of solving the lack of affordable housing in rural areas: but making the most of existing rural housing stock was also worthwhile. It highlighted approaches taken in a number of areas which had increased the use of existing rural properties, and made a number of recommendations for maximizing the use of existing rural housing stock.
Source: The Use of Existing Housing Stock in Rural England, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000)
Links: Report | Housing Corporation press release
Date: 2006-May
A report said that the government needed to address the acute housing problems facing growing numbers of families priced out of booming rural property markets. The opportunity existed in most rural areas for additional homes to be built, and for a significant proportion of the cost to be covered by planning-gain mechanisms (with help from council tax raised from reductions in discounts for second homes).
Source: Richard Best and Mark Shucksmith, Homes for Rural Communities: Report of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Rural Housing Policy Forum, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Report | Summary | JRF press release
Date: 2006-Apr
A report provided an overview of the housing system as a contributory factor in shaping rural Welsh society and its economy, in order to thereby provide a firmer foundation for considering possible policy responses.
Source: The Role of the Housing System in Rural Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (02920 821718)
Date: 2006-Feb
An official advisory body published a briefing paper that examined how rural housing was being affected by the economic recession.
Source: Rural Housing: Briefing note, Commission for Rural Communities/Countryside Agency (020 7340 2900)
Links: Paper
Date: 2006-Jan
The opposition Conservative Party announced plans to scrap central housebuilding targets. Local communities would be rewarded for building homes by a central government grant matching the extra money that the area got through council tax, for 6 years. Social housing tenants who wanted to relocate would be able to demand that their housing association sell their property and use the proceeds to buy another one of their choice. Local housing trusts would be granted powers to expand villages by up to 10 per cent over 10 years.
Source: Speech by Grant Shapps MP (Shadow Housing Minister), 6 October 2009
Links: Text of speech | Conservative Party press release | CIH press release | National Housing Federation press release | New Start report | Inside Housing report (1) | Inside Housing report (2)
Date: 2006-Jan
