Recognising that the lack of genuinely affordable homes in the countryside is one of the biggest problems facing rural communities, Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) has responded to the government on plans to revise planning policy and speed up development to drive economic growth.
Although the organisation broadly welcomed the proposals, they highlighted key areas where more work is still needed:
- define genuine affordability
- control second homes and short term lets
- plan the delivery of rural affordable housing
- development should be genuinely sustainable
- more should be invested in the development of neighbourhood plans.
Commenting, Community First Yorkshire Chief Executive, Jane Colthup, said:
“There is a lack of truly affordable homes for people in North Yorkshire, most especially in our rural communities.
“We wholeheartedly endorse the feedback ACRE has provided and continue to support the work of various strategic groups in North Yorkshire charged with improving the supply of affordable rural housing.
“For example, earlier this year we carried out a housing needs survey for Craven Community Land Trust, which ultimately demonstrated the need for an additional 43 affordable homes across four parishes. We are also delivering the Defra Rural Housing Enablers Programme in North Yorkshire and have recently begun providing community led housing support in the Nidderdale National Landscape area, thanks to funding from the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.”
Read the ACRE response to the government
Today’s announcement by Telecoms Minister, Chris Bryant, that more than 4,500 rural homes and businesses across Yorkshire are now able to access superfast broadband services has been welcomed by Jane Colthup, Chief Executive of Community First Yorkshire.
The improved services are being introduced thanks to local investment of £60m – part of the government’s £5 billion national flagship programme known as Project Gigabit. Up to 28,000 connections in hard-to-reach rural areas will come on-stream once the full roll-out is complete in 2030 with the goal of driving economic growth and fixing the digital divide that plagues people living and working in remote areas.
Speaking on BBC Radio York today (26 September) Jane said: “This is fantastic news that rural communities in North Yorkshire are to get the same superfast speeds as the rest of the world. To improve people’s access to work opportunities and crucial services such as remote health and welfare support, good broadband is absolutely vital and for so long that’s not something we’ve been able to access sufficiently in North Yorkshire.”
Discussing the news, she also highlighted the importance of better connectivity to improve social inclusivity in rural areas – so important to help older people keep in-touch with friends and family.
While welcoming the news, Jane added that access to digital support and training is also crucial to make sure people can make the most of better connectivity and the opportunities it brings. This is something Community First Yorkshire has been focused on with its Digital Inclusion Project , backed by North Yorkshire Council and the NHS in North Yorkshire.
The lack of adequate mobile phone coverage in North Yorkshire was another ongoing issue, she said, with so-called mobile ‘not-spots’ impacting on rural residents and businesses. “This is a fundamental requirement of everyday living in the 21st century,” she added.
To listen to the interview in full, click on the image below.
Read more about Project Gigabit on the government website.
Living in rural North Yorkshire is an aspiration for many, but the reality often falls short due to the lack of available affordable homes.
Many people who grew up in rural areas are likely to want to remain in their home village, especially if their family and close friends are there too.
We’re working with North Yorkshire Council Rural Housing Enablers to explore what housing people need.
Chat to Rural Housing Enablers about your housing needs if you live in parts of Ryedale
- Do you live in or have a family member who have previously lived in one of the following parishes – Claxton, Sand Hutton, Gate or Upper Helmsley, Warthill, Buttercrambe with Bossall?
- Are you in Housing Need?
- Are you having difficulty in finding a home to rent ahead of buying an affordable home?
- Are you an Employer having problems recruiting or retaining staff?
- Is there a lack of affordable houses (to buy or rent) in the parish/es where you live?
- Have you had to move away due to the lack of affordable housing?
- Do you own a small piece of land, that could be considered for an affordable housing development?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, please pop along to Claxton & Sand Hutton Village Hall on Thursday 26 September between 3 – 7pm for an informal chat with one of the Council’s Rural Housing Enablers.
For more information email affordablehousing@northyorks.gov.uk
Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) is urging politicians of all persuasions not to forget the needs and circumstances of people living and working in the countryside in the run up to the general election.
The charity claims that for too long, governments have overlooked the challenges that rural residents face, including diminishing public services, inadequate infrastructure, and housing which has become increasingly unaffordable resulting in hidden poverty and ageing communities.
Politically, the issues facing rural communities clearly matter – from recent shock by elections in North Shropshire, Tiverton and Honiton, Somerton and Frome and Mid-Bedfordshire, to Dorset Council changing control in May. A further 50+ rural parliamentary constituencies are also predicted to change hands at the general election based on current polling data.
Jeremy Leggett, ACRE’s Policy Adviser said, “9.7 million people live in the English countryside, equivalent to the population of London. But more often than not, they don’t get the same attention from the government as their counterparts in the city. And people are starting to recognise this – whether it be disgruntled farmers protesting for the first time about cheap imports, young families given notice to leave their rental property to make way for another Airbnb letting, local businesses flooded again in Worcestershire, or pensioners unable to make their way to hospital because there’s no local clinics or public transport.
“We believe lots can be done to close this gap, from creating a new statutory advisory body charged with requiring government departments to appraise the impact of policies on rural dwellers, to funding much more community-led housing, and supporting villages to develop plans so they can become more resilient to climate change.”
ACRE has set out a suite of policy recommendations for the next government which it is sending to prospective parliamentary candidates via its 38 member organisations, of which Community First Yorkshire is one, which work in support of rural community initiatives in every county of England. It is hoped the publication this will trigger a debate about what it means and takes to represent rural communities in 2024.
James Blake, Chair of ACRE said, “We know from our experience of managing recent grant funds for village halls that even a modest amount of government investment targeted at rural communities can spur on some impressive initiatives that respond to local needs. So, we hope the next government will recognise the value of proactively rural proofing policy so that even more opportunities are afforded to the people who live and work there, whether that be investing in services, infrastructure and affordable housing, or backing projects that contribute to Net Zero. We stand ready to help those in Westminster to ensure that no rural community is left behind.”
Download ACRE’s ‘No Community Left Behind‘ report.
Notes to editors
Press contact: Phillip Vincent, 01285 425645, p.vincent@acre.org.uk
ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) is a charity speaking up for and supporting rural communities. It is the national body of the ACRE Network, England’s largest rural grouping of charities which facilitate a wide range of community-led initiatives that encourage a culture of volunteering and mutual aid, reduce social isolation and loneliness, increase the supply of affordable housing, boost the local economy, and reduce impact on the environment.
A new fund of up to £7 million has been announced by the government to boost access to nature and support rural communities across England wanting to become more green-fingered.
The new Community Green Spaces Fund will provide funding to help communities create, restore and enhance their green spaces.
Grants of up to £75,000 will be provided to help communities plant fruits, vegetables and trees, creating orchards and kitchen gardens for all to access and enjoy. Landscaping projects could also create raised beds and improve areas to plant different flowers around village hall facilities and other community green spaces, making space for pollinators and nature to thrive.
Expansion of natural play facilities
Funding will also be awarded to support the expansion of natural play facilities that encourage children to spend more time outdoors, in addition to projects that focus on improving access to green spaces such as new paths and seating. To make the spaces more accessible to disabled people, funding will also be available for the creation of disabled parking spaces.
Further support for village halls
An additional £5 million of funding for village halls has also been announced to support capital improvement projects, such as building extensions and the installation of wi-fi. This follows the £3 million of funding made available to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
Potential to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents
Richard Quallington, Executive Director at ACRE said:
“We welcome the government’s commitment to supporting rural communities so they can make the most of green spaces. The fund has the potential to support a wide range of initiatives that contribute to Net Zero and biodiversity net gain, as well as improving the health and wellbeing of local residents.
“We know from our experience of administering recent grants to village halls that the availability of capital funding can catalyse new projects, many of which have had an environmental focus. We stand ready to support this new scheme.”
The Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) is working with Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) to scope the Community Green Spaces Fund with applications expected to open in early summer.
Village halls across North, South and West Yorkshire will be taking part in the annual Village Halls Week celebrations, to showcase and encourage green initiatives within community buildings.
Between 18-24 March, Village Halls Week is a national campaign celebrating village halls for their contributions to their local communities. This year’s theme of ‘Go Green’ will look at how community buildings can become more energy efficient and how village committees can support environmentally friendly behaviours within their own communities.
Throughout the week-long celebration, participating village halls will host their own events, share environmental practices and gain inspiration from environmentally successful community buildings.
Sally Scales, chair at Whixley Village Hall, shares her thoughts: “From pantomimes and festive celebrations to coffee mornings and sports matches, Whixley Village Hall is truly the centre of our community, and has been ever since 1935.
“The Village Halls Week campaign and its ‘Go Green’ messaging has never felt more vital, and now more than ever we need to focus on preserving our community buildings for the next generation. Funding is available for green initiatives, and our village hall is undertaking a decarbonisation project which includes a complete replacement of our old and inefficient heating system. We feel proud to be helping to secure the future of this vital community space. I’d heartily encourage any village hall to use this week as a time to focus on how their venue can go green.”
Jane Colthup, chief executive at Community First Yorkshire, continued: “Village Halls Week provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate the beating hearts of our communities, and this year’s theme of ‘Go Green’ will allow our communities to share knowledge and gain inspiration, helping to preserve our environment and allow our community buildings to thrive for many more successful years to come.
“Whixley Village Hall is the perfect example of what community buildings can do to work towards their green goals, and we’re keen to actively encourage community groups to get in touch with us to see what funding is available to them.”
Community First Yorkshire provides support and advice to village halls across North, South and West Yorkshire, including training, resources and bespoke one to one support. The organisation is the Rural Community Council for North, South and West Yorkshire and a strong advocate for rural issues.
Village Halls Week takes place from Monday 18 to Sunday 24 March 2024.
Corinne Pluchino, an experienced leader with a lifelong interest in rural affairs will join Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) in May.
She replaces Richard Quallington who announced his departure last year, having spent 8 years in the role.
Corinne is currently Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at WWT, the charity for wetlands and wildlife. She has previously served as Chief Executive of Campaign for National Parks and has held senior roles with SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity and Hill & Knowlton, the global communications consultancy. She is also a former trustee of CPRE, the countryside charity. With expertise in communications, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement, her experience includes housing and development, environmental, farming, health, and social care issues. She aims to put the needs and interests of rural communities firmly on the next government’s agenda.
Thrilled to be supporting rural communities
Speaking of her appointment, Corinne said: “I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to join ACRE, and to work with its network of thirty-eight member organisations that are dedicated to supporting rural communities across England. It is essential that the significant challenges faced by many people living in rural areas are better understood and they are not disadvantaged by where they live. There are also real opportunities to achieve change through positive action. I am looking forward enormously to working with the ACRE team, the wider network and our partners to deliver these ambitions.”
James Blake, Chair of ACRE said, “We are delighted to be welcoming Corinne to ACRE at this important time for our organisation. With the prospect of a new government on the horizon, it is essential we have someone of Corinne’s calibre in post to build our reputation for championing the needs of rural communities, as well as continuing to deliver for our members.”
Corinne will be joining ACRE at a time of adaptation in its network where members have stepped up to help rural residents through the cost-of-living crisis; delivering new projects to improve health and wellbeing, supporting individuals with fuel poverty, and developing a new network of Rural Housing Enablers to help communities secure more affordable homes.
Corinne will take up her appointment at the end of May.
Notes
ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) is a charity speaking up for and supporting rural communities. It is the national body of the ACRE Network, England’s largest rural grouping of community support charities which support of initiatives that equip people with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to improve their local community. Community First Yorkshire is the ACRE Network member for North, South and West Yorkshire.