Affordable Housing in Rural County Durham: A Growing Need
At the Local Authority Rural Event in July 2023, it was put forward that Rural County Durham potentially faces a critical shortage of affordable housing. DCA believe no one should be disadvantaged due to where they live, but too many people in rural areas are forced to move away due to high costs or lack of availability.
In recent decades, County Durham has lost 3,000 affordable homes through schemes like Right to Buy or from demolitions. Second home ownership is also a problem, causing rising house prices and rents. Very few affordable housing projects have been developed to compensate for this loss. Other rural areas in the UK have successfully addressed similar challenges, so it’s time for us to act. The Rural Housing Enabler Programme gives County Durham a chance to assess the situation, give local communities a voice and support more affordable housing.
Why affordable housing matters
- Essential workers: Key workers, such as healthcare and public service employees, are priced out of the area, forced to choose between long commutes or seeking work in urban centres.
- Local businesses: Many small businesses struggle to hire staff, as affordable housing options are scarce.
- Young people and families: Increasing costs push young people and families out of their home villages.
- Older residents: Older residents may be unable to downsize within their own community, lacking accessible housing options, and losing family and friend connections to live an independent life.
When residents leave, it impacts everyone. Local shops lose customers, businesses can’t find workers, service delivery is strained, and vital community support networks start to break down.
Housing is coming – let’s shape it together
The latest government housebuilding targets for County Durham are ambitious, with a proposed 96% increase in new housing for our area (proposed 2210 up from 1129) Without rural engagement, these developments may happen mainly in urban areas or in ways that don’t reflect local needs. Now is the time for rural communities to help guide where and how housing is built.
How we can help
Rural communities are resilient, and with your commitment and the right support, we can tackle these challenges together. We can help your community create affordable housing solutions designed for local people.
Susan Tron, MBE, your Rural Housing Enabler at DCA, is here to help. Funded through a national scheme run by ACRE, Susan offers free support to your community, including:
- Assessing local housing needs: Conducting housing needs surveys and assessing community requirements.
- Building key partnerships: Collaborating with housebuilders, Parish Councils, landowners and Housing Associations.
- Serving as an honest broker: Providing unbiased, informed advice to help manage different stakeholders’ interests.
- Community engagement: Supporting community members every step of the way to ensure their voices are heard.
Whether you’re an individual, landowner, Parish Council member, or Housing Association representative, we’re here to help. Contact us to start exploring options for affordable housing in your community.
Contact
Susan Tron, MBE – Rural Housing Enabler
Email: susan.tron@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk
Phone: 07496 461 998
Additional Resources
For practical advice on rural affordable housing, download The Parish Councillors’ Guide to Rural Affordable Housing, produced by the Rural Housing Alliance.
Get Inspired
Stocksfield, Northumberland
Stocksfield is a prosperous rural commuter village in Northumberland, where no new affordable homes had been built for 25 years. But then the community decided to build homes themselves.
The Parish Plan identified the need for more affordable homes but local residents were concerned about any new developments being built on green belt as the village sits in a beautiful rural setting.
Working with Karbon Homes they developed seven much-needed new affordable homes to rent by local people in the village. The new affordable homes were built on brownfield sites to help minimise their environmental impact and protect the green belt.
Wimbish, Essex
Wimbish is a typical rural community where local people have been squeezed out of the housing market by rising costs. However, it is far from typical in the way the Parish Council has sought to address this issue and continued to do so for the past 21 years. 28 affordable homes have been built to buy or rent over this time. Prior to each development, a housing needs survey has been carried out, and the homes have been rented every time to people with a connection to the village.
They developed the first rural affordable housing scheme in the UK to be built to Passivhaus specifications, with some residents stating their heating bills were only £30 a quarter.
