Spotlight on Rural Housing - January 2026

A quarterly bulletin facilitated by your membership of the Rural Services Network and produced in partnership with the Rural Housing Alliance, highlighting a selection of current rural housing issues and opportunities

Regional leaders must make rural housing a strategic priority

New research demonstrates how devolution in England can deliver the affordable homes that rural communities need – If rural priorities are embedded in local strategies.

The Rural Housing Network (RHN), which commissioned the research by the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), welcomes the explicit support for rural affordable housing delivery in the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026-2036. However, as the research demonstrates through a series of case studies, meeting the housing needs of rural communities requires regional leaders to make it a strategic priority.

The report sets out six key recommendations to ensure devolution delivers for the countryside:

• Embed rural representation and accountability via amendments to the Devolution Bill.
• Engage early and proactively in the devolution process to secure rural visibility.
• Embed rural priorities in Spatial Development Strategies and Strategic Place Partnerships.
• Strengthen evidence of rural housing need at parish level.
• Retain and develop Rural Housing Partnerships and the Rural Housing Enabler network.
• Strengthen rural planning mechanisms, including support for Rural Exception Sites.

A handful of affordable homes in a village can keep a school open, support a local shop, and help older residents stay near family. Devolution offers a chance to join up housing with transport, jobs, and services in a way that fits rural life - but that won’t happen by accident.

We urge policymakers, councils, and housing professionals to read the report and act on its findings. Rural communities deserve a fair share - and with the right choices now, devolution can help deliver it.

You can read the full report at this link.

Hastoe’s Hampshire development wins CPRE award for Best Housing Solution

A new scheme of eight affordable homes in the village of Curdridge, Hampshire, scooped the gong for Best Housing Solution at the CPRE Hampshire Countryside Awards in December.

The scheme is the culmination of 15 years of hard work and collaboration between Curdridge Parish Council, Winchester City Council, Action Hampshire, Hastoe Housing Association and landowner Rob Medway. Built on a rural exception site, the development delivers much-needed social rent and shared ownership homes, prioritised for local people and built with sensitivity to the local environment and countryside.

Helping Hastoe bring the site to fruition and ensuring all the homes were built in line with Hastoe’s New Build Standard were MH Architects, contractor Shopland Gray and employer’s agent Welling Partnership.

Chris Meadows, Regional Development Manager for Hastoe, said: “Curdridge is a fantastic example of how collaboration between the right partners, willing to give back to their community, can unlock more affordable homes in Hampshire and beyond.

“The build also gave us some great opportunities to engage with the wider community, from taking local schoolchildren around the site, to hosting an event for other local Hampshire councils to showcase the benefits of investing in rural affordable housing. We’re sure the village of Curdridge will thrive for generations to come and are delighted our new homes will play a part in that.”

For more information about the new homes in Curdridge, please visit www.hastoe.com/curdridge

‘Give Us a Mic' podcast project helps gives younger people a voice

Rural housing provider Connexus has launched a pilot podcast training project for people accessing its younger person support services.

The ‘Give us a mic’ project is supported by MRI Softwear, Connexus CRM software partner, who’ve donated podcasting equipment, software and licences.

MRI Software, together with bestselling author, fitness expert and podcaster Alex Bevis, and local music artist Macy O will be supporting the young people throughout 2026 with training and advice on creating engaging podcast content.

The project was launched with an event at Ludlow assembly rooms, which included an inspirational talk and question and answer session with Alex Bevis and Macy O.

Local Ludlow charities have also offered to support by providing volunteering opportunities which the budding podcasters can use as content for their broadcasts.

Sian Davies, Customer experience officer at Connexus said: “In rural areas, some young people can feel disconnected from society and unsure about their future. This project changes that. It gives them a voice, a purpose, and the opportunity to develop real skills while connecting with their communities. It's more than podcasting, it's about confidence, aspirations and showing young people that their stories and their voice matters.”

For more information contact: [email protected]

Hold the date – Rural Housing Week 2026

Every year, Rural Housing Week highlights the many social and economic benefits of affordable housing to rural communities.

Rural Housing Week 2026 will take place from 6 to 11 July. Watch this space for more details!

Energy Efficiency Champion of the Year: making a difference for rural residents in the Midlands

Adam from Midlands Rural Housing has received national recognition at the Energy Efficiency Awards 2025, claiming the title of ‘Energy Efficiency Champion of the Year’.

This award recognises 'someone who has displayed excellence in the industry and contributed significantly to energy efficiency measures in their area.'

Midlands Rural Housing outline: “Adam has overseen the comprehensive and successful retrofits of 109 rural social homes across the Midlands. Adam’s personal, passionate and positive approach enabled almost 100% access to residents’ homes.  Although the retrofits are a team effort, Adam’s approach to resident engagement and championing the energy efficiency improvement works were absolutely crucial to the success of the project.

“From a (long) shortlist of 13, Adam more than deserves to be named Energy Efficiency Champion of the Year – for his unwavering passion and commitment to educating, encouraging and supporting social housing residents, living in rural areas, through the retrofit process, and beyond!”

As well as Adam’s personal win, Midlands Rural Housing also bought home two other trophies on behalf of two of the rural housing associations they service:

• National Poverty and Vulnerable Customer Support of the Year: 2nd place for Warwickshire Rural Housing Association
• National Housing Association of the Year: 3rd place for Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association

Find out more about Adam www.midlandsrural.org.uk/AdamIsAWinner

Government sets out major planning reforms

In the days leading up to the parliamentary recess over Christmas, the Government set out a series of significant announcements on planning reform, housing delivery and infrastructure. Together, these measures include new legislation, proposed changes to national planning policy, and the launch of a formal consultation on a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Key proposals for the NPPF include:

• A default “yes” to suitable homes being built around rail stations, alongside minimum housing density rules.
• A similar “yes” to building upwards in towns and cities to support higher-density development.
• Measures to make it easier for developers, particularly SME builders, to deliver higher-density housing on smaller sites and under-used land.
• Introduction of a new “medium site” category (10–49 homes), with proportionate requirements and costs for SME builders.
• Streamlining standards on energy efficiency and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) to provide greater certainty for development proposals.
• Stronger encouragement for a diverse mix of housing, including rural affordable homes and accessible housing for older and disabled people.
• A requirement for nature-friendly features, such as swift bricks, in new developments.
• Preferential treatment for developments that strengthen local economies and provide new services, including shops, leisure facilities and food production.

This consultation closes on 10 March 2026 and you can read further details on the RSN website at this link.

Green light for affordable housing regeneration in Shropshire

Rural affordable housing provider Connexus has been granted planning permission for the redevelopment of two outdated semi-detached homes in Diddlebury, Shropshire, into four modern, energy-efficient affordable homes.

The redevelopment proposal was supported by the Parish council and will see two existing properties, built in 1948 and now in poor condition, replaced with two three-bedroom and two two-bedroom homes for social rent and shared ownership. Construction is expected to begin later this year.

Designed by Susan Rowley Architectural Design, the new homes will feature energy-efficient air-source heating systems, improved insulation, and EV charging points.

The external finishes will be in keeping with neighbouring properties, parking for up to two cars will be provided and bird and bat boxes will be installed on the site.

For further information on this scheme contact [email protected]

Local people to benefit from Westward’s new affordable homes in Devon village

Winkleigh, situated in the heart of Devon, is gaining 21 desirable new affordable homes. These one, two and three bedroom homes are provided through Westward Housing Group as part of a wider new estate of 71 homes.

Provided under section 106, the Castle Green estate will provide Westward flats and houses in this rural area of Torridge, just north of Dartmoor.

The homes will offer a range of housing options including 16 homes for social rent to local people, let through Devon Home Choice. For those seeking shared ownership opportunities, this estate will also offer 5 shared ownership properties with two and three bedroom capacity. Part-rent, part-buy sales will be through the sales team at Westward with homes advertised on the website in due course. 

Phase one is under way and all homes will be ready by April 2026. The homes will meet a high building regulations standard with EPC (energy efficiency performance) rating to a standard of B across the site. All homes will benefit from air source heat pumps.

Stephen Lodge, Chief Executive at Westward Housing Group, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to visit the location of our new homes being built, with the local MP, Sir Geoffrey Cox. It gives us an opportunity to show him the difference homes make in rural communities and the importance of affordable housing in Devon.”

There is clear local housing need for 37 properties in the parish at the start of this year and a local connection is required – so firstly Devon Home Choice offer them to the parish residents, then if there are still homes available to the surrounding parishes (a further 25 needed) and finally if they are still unable to let, then out to the district of Torridge where housing need is 1,458 (all figures from March 2025).

In addition to the construction of much needed new homes, the development will also provide contributions for allotments, artificial turf pitch, play and youth play facilities off-site, the sports hall and park off-site, secondary education transport, Great Torrington swimming pool, a Castle Court Monument interpretation board, off-site traffic light / pedestrian crossing between the sports centre and village, community car park, landscaping and ecological / wildlife friendly landscaping.

For more information on this scheme, please contact: [email protected]

Quaker Housing Trust support for small charitable organisations

QHT gives advice, support, loans and grants to small charitable organisations to help them provide safe, decent and affordable homes.

They currently offer two separate restricted funding programmes:

• ?Best practice grants up to £6000 for early in the development of a project to enable projects to reach the highest possible standards.
• ?The Main Grants and Loans Programme to fund projects which create homes.

For capital projects generating income from rent, trustees will award interest-free loans up to £30,000 with a 5% administration fee payable at the end of the loan period.

The deadline for expressions of interest for the main grants and loans programme is 29 January 2026. The deadline for applications for best practice grants is 26 March 2026. Further information is available at this link.

Connexus appoints two new non-executive directors

Connexus has welcomed two new non-executive directors (NEDs) to its Board and committees.

Anne Copeland is a former senior UK real estate investment professional, she has wide experience of appointing and working with NEDs and Trustees. She recently completed the Financial Times Board Director Programme (Non-Executive Director Diploma) and is a chartered surveyor and an operator under the Senior Managers Certificate Regime. Anne is also an experienced real estate fund manager and former Head of New Business Implementation at AEGON Asset Management UK PLC.

Philip Ingle has joined as Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee, following his recent tenure as an independent Audit Committee member for Citizen Housing. He is also currently Chair of Audit at Muir Group and brings significant governance and sector experience. His previous roles include serving as a Pension Board Member for the Shropshire Council LGPS Pension Scheme, a Member of the Independent Remuneration Committee, and a Board Member of WM Homes – Hereford, Worcester and Bromsgrove. From 2016 to 2021, he was Deputy Chief Executive at The Housing Plus Group Ltd.