Affordable Housing for Rural Gloucestershire

The lack of suitable affordable housing in Gloucestershire is a serious problem for many people who are forced to move home out of the countryside and into our larger towns and cities. The movement of people away from their roots has had a major impact on social and economic strengths of our rural communities in Gloucestershire.

The problem is illustrated by:

The average cost of a terraced house in Gloucestershire in October 2010 was £138,226 and house prices in rural parts are often significantly higher (source of information HM Land Registry). This is more than 7x the median (50th percentile) £21,455 gross annual earnings of residents in Gloucestershire.
Mortgage lenders often require first time buyers to put down a deposit of at least 10% of house purchase price and restrict the amount of mortgage to no more than 3.5x joint annual income. For many would-be first time buyers the costs are unaffordable in Gloucestershire, and especially so in rural areas where house prices are often higher.
It is calculated that 20,200 new homes a year are required in the South West to meet housing needs, including 6-10,000 affordable homers for people who cannot afford to buy or rent on the open market. The coalition Government has promised 150,000 additional affordable homes throughout England during 2010 to 2014.

GRCC’s Rural Housing Enabler can help by

Working with the parish council to undertake local housing needs surveys.
Finding sites for affordable housing
Working with local housing/planning authorities, housing associations and community land trusts in the provision of affordable housing.
Promoting understanding of affordable housing within local communities and raising the profile of housing needs in Gloucestershire.
Championing new ideas and exploring new ways of working to provide affordable housing

The Gloucestershire Rural Housing Partnership is set up to measure and address the need for affordable housing in our villages. The Partnerships includes:

Housing associations: Bromford Housing Group, Gloucestershire Housing Association, Severn Vale Housing Society and Two Rivers Housing Association

Local housing authorities: Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Stroud District Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council.

Homes & Communities Agency (Government body for funding and enabling of affordable housing)

Parishes that would like more information about rural housing or wish to undertake a local housing needs survey please contact the Rural Housing Enabler, Martin Hutchings Tel: 01452 528491 or email martinh@grcc.org.uk or write to:

GRCC
Community House
15 College Green
Gloucester
GL1 2LZ

Also, a very useful source of information is Affordable Rural Housing a practical guide for parish councils is available from the National Housing Federation brochure for parish councillors

Housing Needs Survey Reports

Since 2005 local housing needs surveys have been carried out in the following parishes:

Summary of Housing Needs Survey Reports - rural Gloucestershire

Accompanied by Martin Hutchings, GRCC’s Rural Housing Enabler, and Ally Rood, Planning & Housing Officer, Action with Communities in Rural England, parish councillors enjoyed a full day visiting affordable rural housing schemes at various stages of delivery, including a ‘greenfield’ site, a development under construction and an exception site built in 2000.

Affordable Rural housing Tour 21.07.11 Final Report

There are big changes lying ahead to social housing rents.

Please click here to read the new affordable rents document