Can Local People Still Afford to Live in Our Villages? Let’s Talk About It.

Across rural England, parish councils are hearing the same concern again and again: young people growing up in the village can’t afford to stay, families are being priced out, and local businesses are struggling to find workers who can live nearby.
It’s not just a housing issue — it’s about the future of our communities.
When local people can’t find an affordable home, villages slowly begin to change. Schools struggle to maintain numbers, local services become harder to sustain, and the mix of generations that gives rural communities their life and character starts to disappear.
The good news? Parish councils are in a powerful position to help shape solutions.

Affordable Housing Doesn’t Have to Mean Large Developments

When affordable housing is mentioned, it can sometimes raise concerns about scale or losing the character of a village. In reality, many successful rural schemes are small, carefully designed developments built specifically to meet local housing need.
These are often delivered through Rural Exception Sites — small parcels of land that would not normally be released for housing but can be used to provide affordable homes for local people.
These schemes typically provide a handful of homes for people with a strong local connection — helping young families, key workers and older residents who want to remain in the community.
But working out how to get from an idea to a deliverable project can feel complicated. That’s where support is available.

The Role of the Rural Housing Enabler

The Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) works with parish councils and communities to explore whether affordable housing could work locally.
The role is simple: act as an independent and trusted go-between, bringing together parish councils, residents, landowners, housing associations and the local authority.
The RHE can help with:

• Running local housing needs surveys to understand demand
• Helping communities explore options beyond neighbourhood plans
• Facilitating open conversations with residents and landowners
• Identifying potential sites and partners
• Supporting the development of high-quality homes that remain affordable for local people

Importantly, nothing moves forward without community involvement and a clear understanding of local need.

Momentum in Herefordshire

The Rural Housing Enabler project at Community First Herefordshire & Worcestershire is already building momentum through the Together for Affordable Housing – Hererordshire campaign, which has brought key organisations together to tackle the rural housing challenge collectively.
This partnership is now exploring a demonstration project that will test a more community-led approach to delivering rural affordable housing. The aim is to trial a model where communities play a stronger role in shaping solutions — and to learn lessons that could benefit other parishes across the county.

Let’s Start the Conversation

• If affordable housing is something your parish has talked about — or even worried about — you don’t have to navigate it alone.
  The Rural Housing Enabler is there to help parish councils explore the options, understand local need, and see whether a small rural scheme could work for your community.
  There’s no commitment — just a conversation.
  If your parish council would like to learn more about rural affordable housing or the support available, please get in touch with the Rural Housing Enabler.
  Because keeping villages alive, thriving and welcoming for local people is something worth working on together.
  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  Rural Housing | Community First H&W (www.comfirst.org.uk/rural-housing)