Housing Corporation News Release

Rural Housing Advisory Group pledges to stand up for rural communities

30 May 2007 Ref: 54/07

The Government commissioned Rural Housing Advisory Group has held its first meeting.

Chaired by Candy Atherton, Board member of the Housing Corporation with lead responsibility for rural housing, amongst the Group's main tasks is to advise the Government on issues relating to the delivery of affordable rural housing.

Following the meeting, Candy Atherton said,

"The current debate on affordable housing often fails to mention the difficulties faced by rural communities.  The Rural Housing Advisory Group will ensure that the case for decent, affordable housing for these communities is made.  Our inaugural meeting has set out an ambitious work-plan, which I am sure will deliver for our rural communities.

"Innovation and identifying and promoting successful methods of delivery will be the focus of the group as we seek to ensure that low-cost home ownership, and affordable housing for rent are available now and in the future. The Rural Housing Advisory Group will ensure that tackling social exclusion in dispersed rural communities is centre stage in our work.

"This group does not want to be a talking shop.  Rather we plan to research and bring together the best ideas and make them available to people up and down the country through a new website.  While, at the other end of the spectrum, we will need to ensure that Westminster and Whitehall provide us with the tools to help communities solve their own problems."

Trevor Cherrett, Head of Planning, Housing and Transport, at the Commission for Rural Communities, said,

"The Commission for Rural Communities welcomes the establishment of the Housing Corporation`s Rural Housing Advisory Group. It is essential that the key bodies involved in the crucial aim of improving the delivery of affordable housing in rural areas work closely together, and the first meeting of the Group was a very encouraging start."

Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Policy Director, Neil Sinden said,

"With mounting evidence of the severity of the problems facing the delivery of affordable housing in rural areas, it is critical there is a clearer focus on the effective delivery of affordable housing in rural communities.  Best practice need to be developed and promoted if we are to make the most of the resources available.  The advisory group has a central role to play in achieving this."

Alongside the Rural Housing Advisory Group, the Housing Corporation has also published its revised Rural Housing Strategy, to continue and enhance the Corporation's work in rural areas.

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

1) For further press information, please contact Naomi Evans on 020 7393 2118.

2) The Rural Housing Advisory Group been set up by the Housing Corporation, at the request of Government,  with the purpose of:

i. Advising the Government on issues relating to the delivery mechanisms for affordable rural housing, taking into account the conclusions of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission, relevant national policies and emerging thinking of regional housing stakeholders;

ii. Promoting joint working between key stakeholders;

iii. Exploring and promoting innovative approaches to the delivery of affordable homes in rural areas;

iv. Monitoring and seeking ways of improving the effectiveness of current delivery mechanisms.

3) The group will monitor and encourage the development of innovative ways of securing affordable rural housing such as Community Land Trusts, land swap levy and community bonds, building on approaches being pioneered by stakeholders including the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and local government.

It will also provide a forum for sharing good practice in delivering affordable housing in rural areas and promote the wider dissemination of successful approaches and seek to further its work, particularly its objective of promoting innovation, by drawing on a range of financial sources, including the Housing Corporation's Innovation and Good Practice programme.

4) The first meeting of the Rural Housing Advisory Group was held on Tuesday 22 May 2007, in central London.  The attendance list was as follows:

Housing Corporation - Candy Atherton
Housing Corporation - Andrew  Wiles
English Partnerships - David Warburton
Commission for Rural Communities - Trevor Cherrett
Local Government Association - Gary Porter
Derbyshire Dales - Rob Cogings
East Hants DC - Elizabeth Cartwright
Regional Rural Affairs Forum - Jack  Ellerby
Peak District National Park - Jim Dixon
Hastoe Housing Association - Caroline  Proverbs
CPRE - Neil Sinden, Peter Bradley
Rural Housing Trust - Moira Constable
Business in  the Community - Christine  Larson
Action for Communities in Rural England - Sylvia Brown
Country Land and Business Association - Fenella  Collins
National Housing Federation - Jenny  Harris
Community Council for Berkshire - Arlene Kersley
Communities & Local Government - Mary Stallebrass
DEFRA - Holly Yates

5) The Housing Corporation is the Government agency responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating nearly 2,000 housing associations across England.  Its biggest ever investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 will fund 84,000 homes;  49,000 of these will be for affordable rent, and 35,000 will be for affordable sale through the Government's new HomeBuy initiative, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder.

6) The Housing Corporation is working with English Partnerships and Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed new national housing and regeneration agency, Communities England.