ACRE is pleased to note Government recognition of differing rural needs across the country which require targeted responses at local level developed in conjunction with local people. Across the country, our network delivers a crucial brokerage role between local communities and local government through rural housing enabling and community led planning. We would encourage Local Planning Authorities to use the results of this work to ensure communities’ diverse needs are recognised. We also hope that the Government’s Empowerment Fund will prove effective in enabling communities to be involved in a range of activities, including rural affordable housing delivery.

ACRE is also pleased that the Government will be looking again at the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) target for delivering rural affordable housing and considering ways to increase the delivery of new rural homes. Responding to the Government response Sylvia Brown, ACRE’s Chief Executive said: ”We welcome the initiative during this coming summer to bring together the HCA with key national, regional and local policy and delivery partners. We would encourage the inclusion of Rural Housing Enablers (RHEs) as key independent agents working with local communities, landowners, housing associations and councils in this process”.

The use of exception sites in smaller settlements is fundamental where there is an identified community need for affordable housing. Powers given to local authorities within Planning Policy Statement 3 must be actively used and proposals for small scale housing development fully considered, particularly where local communities have worked with rural housing enablers to bring them forward. We also welcome the recognition of the training for local parish and town councils on tackling affordable housing need.

Sylvia Brown said that: “NALC and ACRE are working closely together on the role of community led planning in highlighting the needs and opportunities for affordable housing in local communities. Both organisations are committed to delivering effective community empowerment through local people creating their own vision and taking responsibility for making it happen through the community led planning process”

ACRE also welcomes the government’s acceptance that allowing the growth of rural enterprise hubs and live/work units can deliver a real boost to the rural economy which is particularly important in these times of rapid economic change.