Government boost for Affordable Homes - a chance to address the rural shortfall
rural housing
5th September 2025
In July, the government confirmed a record-breaking, 10-year, £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP). The Rural Housing Enabler Service in Cumbria, and colleagues across the country, will continue to push to make sure that small rural communities get their fair share of the promised investment.
There are good signs, including this acknowledgement by government of the additional challenges that face rural delivery:
'We recognise that some types of social and affordable homes that are much needed can often cost more to deliver – such as some homes built by local councils, supported housing, community-led and rural homes. The new programme is designed to be flexible to support the greater diversity of supply needed, and we are asking providers to come forward with ambitious bids that reflect this diversity.'
The Rural Housing Enabler Service in Cumbria, which ACT delivers with Eden Housing Association, has a skilled and committed Advisory Group, to steer and support this work. This group (housing and planning strategists from the Local Authorities, housing development specialists from local housing associations and representatives from Cumbria Association and Local Councils, and Homes England) is committed to exploring how the affordable housing needs of small rural communities in Cumbria can be met.
We are working with a number of communities across the county to really understand their housing need and to look at opportunities - sites, landowners, delivery partners - for appropriate small scale affordable housing development that supports the future vibrancy of the local community.
Without this additional support, experience shows that housing delivery clusters around larger towns and settlements, for economies of scale. This makes it even harder to sustain village schools, shops, GPs and other vital services as populations dwindle, local young families are priced out and older people cannot access the care they need. We will be testing the government's commitment to provide adequate funding so that rural villages are not disadvantaged when it comes to affordable homes.
We know there is a tricky balance to be struck when it comes to protecting our countryside, at the same time as sustaining communities. Small developments, scaled appropriately for small settlements, have a big impact and be designed with the landscape and wider environment in mind. The Local Development Plans for each of the Unitary Authorities, and for both the National Parks in Cumbria can help set out a desirable and sustainable approach. ACT is also working on this, with communities in the Lake District.
If you would like to talk with us about housing in your place, please do get in touch with Fran Richardson.