The need for affordable housing is a critical challenge affecting many rural communities across the country. In England, house prices in rural areas have increased to a greater extent than in urban areas and have outstripped rural wage increases, while affordable developments in villages are generally more costly and complex to deliver than urban equivalents.
Funded by the Rural Housing Network (RHN), this research study will consider the impact of the government’s English Devolution programme on the delivery of affordable rural housing, via evidence review and case study interviews in counties at different stages of the devolution journey. The following key objectives will be addressed:
1. Examining how affordable rural housing has been or is likely to be affected by devolution processes.
2. Identifying good practice and opportunities that support the delivery of affordable rural homes through devolution.
3. Providing evidence-based recommendations that the RHN can use to advocate for devolution that safeguards and improves the delivery of affordable housing in small rural communities.
Taking place over a seven month period in 2025, the study will be led by Dr Demelza Jones and involve colleagues Dr Katarina Kubinakova and Honor Mackley-Ward.
CCRI Ref: 2024-062
