Rural Housing Enabler
The Rural Housing Enabler programme is being delivered by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) on behalf of the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) which aims to help boost the supply of new, affordable homes across England.
Independent advisors will work with communities to support the development of affordable local housing schemes. These advisors will help identify suitable development opportunities in communities and support site owners and community representatives to navigate the planning system and create developments in rural areas that meet the needs of local people. Each project will be monitored by an Advisory Group.
What will a Rural Housing Enabler do?
- Work closely with the Isle of Wight Council Housing and Planning officers to develop policy and strategies
- Share practical initiatives and good practice to support the delivery of rural affordable housing, including local lettings policies and/or Section 106 agreements
- Support Neighbourhood and Community Plan groups to explore and implement their proposals and policies for delivering rural affordable housing
- Signpost Neighbourhood and Community Plan groups to sources of technical advice and support
- Act as an impartial broker providing informed and impartial advice
- Support, advise and direct Town and Parish Councillors and Communities through the process of providing affordable housing (from their initial interest through to identifying a site, scheme inspection and pre-development phases to completion)
- Assist communities to identify the nature and extent of affordable local housing need, including through Housing Needs Surveys
You can view the reports that we have written using the data from Housing Needs Surveys that we have conducted here:
You can contact the team at the following:
Gretel Ingham
Telephone 01983 539373
Mobile 07818 904560
Email: gingham@actioniw.org.uk