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There was a lot for rural areas to like in the White Paper
WHITE PAPER: The White Paper should be welcomed by rural housing providers but there is scope for the government to go further, says Sue Chalkley
There is much for rural areas to welcome in the Housing White Paper. First of all I am encouraged by the approach and the three-month consultation period.
This contrasts with the Housing and Planning Act and is an indication that the government really wants to listen to our responses.
The affordability gap in rural communities means that even low-cost homeownership is out of reach for many local workers. But they still need a secure home in their community.
So, it was great to hear that the government understands the need for rented homes, which will encourage rural communities to bring forward land for rural exception site development.
I was delighted with the strong support for rural exception sites and the extension of the definition of affordable to include private lets.
Jargon buster: rural exceptions sites
Rural exception sites are sites designated for housing that would not normally receive planning permission for housing due to planning constraints (because, for example, they are agricultural land near a settlement). Under the National Planning Policy Framework, these rural sites can be used for affordable housing in perpetuity if they meet an unmet local housing need.
This will provide opportunities for rural landowners to develop their own sites for affordable housing and retain a long-term interest – this has the potential to unlock more new developments.
Hastoe specialises in building community-led housing on rural exception sites – these accounted for a quarter of all affordable homes built in villages last year.
We are worried about the return of Starter Homes on rural exception sites as this undermines the essential principle of affordability in perpetuity in return for low land values. But this is discretionary, so it should be manageable by local communities and landowners.
We do think there is potential for the government to go further, and support and encourage rural landowners to release more sites for affordable homes.
This would make a very significant increase in new rural supply and seems to be underappreciated by Westminster policymakers who do not see the different motivations between rural and urban landowners.
“I was delighted with the strong support for rural exception sites.”
Also if, as the White Paper proposes, there will be more small sites available for housebuilding, the government must close the loophole that enables developers to avoid building affordable homes on sites of fewer than 10 homes.
Too many villages are having to fight developments that are coincidentally nine homes or less and bring no affordable homes to the community at all. Two-thirds of rural affordable homes have come from small sites until now and this needs urgent attention.
Hastoe will respond to the White Paper consultation and we look forward to working with the government over the coming months to ensure that the voice of rural England is heard.
Sue Chalkley, chief executive, Hastoe Group
