Spotlight on Rural Housing - July 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

New toolkit helps rural communities make devolution work for affordable housing

Launched during Rural Housing Week 2026, the free guide warns villages risk being “written out” of plans that will shape housing for a generation.

 Rural communities across England are being given the tools to shape how housing decisions are made under devolution, as English Rural publishes a new toolkit to mark the start of Rural Housing Week 2026.

Making Devolution Work for Affordable Rural Housing is a free, practical guide for parish councils, community groups, rural councillors and housing advocates. It comes as new strategic authorities — and, in many areas, directly elected mayors — take on significant housing and planning powers under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026. 

At the heart of the new system are Spatial Development Strategies: high-level plans, with a minimum 20-year horizon, that every strategic authority must produce. English Rural warns that unless these plans explicitly recognise rural housing need, smaller villages and market towns risk being overlooked in favour of larger urban centres. 

The scale of the challenge is stark. More than 300,000 people are on rural social housing waiting lists in England. Rural house prices stand at 8.8 times local lower-quartile earnings. Rural homelessness has risen by 73% since 2018, while social housing construction has fallen by 32% since 2012. Affordable housing need is around 50% higher in rural areas than in urban areas outside London — yet there is no national rural housing target. 

Martin Collett, Chief Executive, English Rural, said: “Devolution is the biggest change in how housing decisions are made in a generation, and it could be a real opportunity for rural England. But opportunity is not the same as outcome. Spatial Development Strategies being written now will shape where homes are built for the next 20 years. If rural need isn't written in, it gets averaged out. This toolkit puts practical power in the hands of the people who know their communities best — so rural voices are heard while it still counts.” 

The toolkit builds on independent research, English Devolution and Rural Affordable Housing: Opportunities and Risks, published in December 2025 by the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) at the University of Gloucestershire and commissioned by the Rural Housing Network. That research found devolution poses both opportunities and risks for rural affordable housing, and warned of a “postcode lottery” in which some areas secure investment while others are overlooked. 

It sets out who communities should engage with, five practical actions they can take, checklists to test whether a local Spatial Development Strategy is genuinely “rural proofed”, and ready-to-use templates including letters to strategic authorities and MPs. 

The toolkit is free to download here and free to share.

Residents begin moving into new affordable homes in Shropshire village 

Residents are starting to settle into their new homes in Bomere Heath following the completion of 19 much-needed affordable properties. 

The new homes, delivered by Housing Plus Group in partnership with J. Harper & Sons (Leominster) Limited, are available for social rent and shared ownership and have been prioritised for those with a strong local connection to the village, allowing them to stay close to family, friends and work. 

For those moving in, these homes represent more than bricks and mortar. They offer stability, security and the chance to build a future in a place they know and love. 

The scheme includes a mix of one-bedroom flats and bungalows, alongside two and three-bedroom houses, giving individuals, couples and families a range of options suited to their needs. A new play area also provides a space for children to connect and for neighbours to come together, helping to foster a strong sense of community from day one. 

Developments like this are especially important in rural villages like Bomere Heath, where rising house prices can make it difficult for local people to stay in the area.  

Lesley Birch, Development Manager, at Housing Plus Group, said: “I’m incredibly proud to see residents now moving into their new homes. This development is helping people with local connections to remain in the village they love, instead of being forced out by rising house prices.”

The project was supported with £1.4 million in funding from Homes England. 

 During Rural Housing Week (6–10 July), developments like Bomere Heath helped to highlight the vital role affordable housing plays - not just in providing places to live, but in helping people put down roots, stay in the area they love and thrive within rural communities.

Spring Spruce Up in Cleobury Mortimer

Staff at rural housing provider Connexus volunteered their time to help independent living customers in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire get their gardens ready for the summer. 

The team painted benches and garden furniture, emptied compost bins, and worked with customers to top up flower borders and tidy communal garden spaces.  

Rebecca Morris, Independent Living Manager at Connexus, said: “We were delighted to help customers with gardening tasks from their wish lists that can be difficult due to mobility challenges, disability, illness or a lack of equipment. 

“The response from customers was incredibly heart?warming and showed what difference could be made when the community comes together. During the day we presented each customer with their own plant to look after over the next few months. This made sure everyone could feel included and involved, including those unable to take on more physical tasks. 

“A huge thank you to all the colleagues who supported with cleaning and tidying throughout the day, and to those who stayed behind to leave the community space clean, refreshed and ready to enjoy. We’re proud to have played a part in improving the local community for our customers.” 

Each year Connexus encourages colleagues to take part in volunteering days as part of its Corporate Plan commitment to investing in communities, opportunities and skills.

EPC A affordable homes under construction in Somerset village

Willow Tree Housing Partnership are currently working with Otter Construct Limited in Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset, to provide a mix of affordable rent, social rent and shared ownership homes. 

The eight affordable homes are being built to a very high standard incorporating solar PV and batteries, EV chargers and Air Source Heat Pumps, as well as incorporating wildlife elements to encourage biodiversity.

This is Willow Tree’s fifth collaboration with Otter Construct, following successful schemes in Stoke St Gregory, North Petherton, Creech St Michael and Ilton over the last few years.  Proposed to be EPC A, the homes are designed to be affordable to run as well as affordable to rent or buy.

The scheme started on site in August 2025 and is progressing well with 4 homes watertight and plasterboarded with first fix plumbing and electrical completed.  These will be advertised for rent on Homefinder Somerset later this year and are due to be handed over to WTHP in November.  The remaining four have blockwork being laid and are anticipated to be handed over in March 2027.

Midlands Rural Housing to deliver rural housing enabling in Warwickshire and Solihull

Midlands Rural Housing (MRH) is pleased to be working with the Rural Community Council, Leicestershire and Rutland (RCC) to deliver Rural Housing Enabling services across Warwickshire and Solihull.

The new contract will see MRH support rural communities to identify and respond to local housing need, working closely with parish councils, local authorities, and other partners to help bring forward affordable homes for local people. 

Funded by Defra and administered through Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), the service ensures continued investment in rural housing delivery at a time when many communities face increasing challenges around affordability and access to suitable homes.

At the heart of the service is the Rural Housing Enabler role, which provides dedicated support to communities. This includes undertaking housing needs surveys, facilitating local conversations around housing, and helping to identify suitable opportunities for affordable housing – while ensuring schemes reflect local priorities and secure community support. 

Philippa McKenna, Project Delivery Manager at Midlands Rural Housing, said: "We’re really pleased to be working with RCC to deliver this service. Rural housing enabling is about making sure communities have a voice and that new homes reflect what local people actually need. We’re looking forward to working with partners across Warwickshire and Solihull to support the delivery of affordable homes in rural areas.”

Kevin Butcher, Executive Director of the RCC (Leicestershire and Rutland) said “It was really important that we secured this investment in local rural housing delivery for Warwickshire.  We now need local communities, parish councils and housing developers to step up and help us deliver some local homes for local people.’

2026 National Rural Conference

The 2026 National Rural Conference takes place from Monday 14 to Thursday 17 September.

Exclusively for RSN members, the conference provides the opportunity for rural

stakeholders and local authorities to discuss rural policy and the latest best practice.

RSN will be hosting 8 sessions across the week focusing on different policy areas, all hosted online.

You can book your place at our upcoming 2026 conference now at this link.

Hastoe sponsors inaugural CPRE Somerset Awards

Hastoe Housing Association was proud to sponsor CPRE Somerset’s new awards scheme last month, “Love Your Countryside”: shining a light on the positive projects that make an outstanding contribution to the environment and support local communities in Somerset.

The awards, which took place at the Coronation Hall in Burrowbridge, saw winners across five categories, ranging from small grassroots projects to large, ambitious developments. 

Becky Collier, Manager of CPRE Somerset, said: “Our new awards were the perfect way to mark CPRE’s 100th birthday in 2026, and to share and celebrate the brilliant projects and people that make our Somerset countryside such a special place. Congratulations to all our amazing winners and thank you to Hastoe for their sponsorship.”

Chris Meadows, Hastoe Development Director, said: “We very much share the CPRE’s values and recognise the important work it undertakes across the UK to protect and conserve the environment and local countryside. As a specialist rural housing developer, and a social landlord, we are committed to building sustainable homes to support sustainable communities, in areas such as Somerset and beyond.

“But it’s not just about affordability. We believe that quality of life begins with a quality home and, to achieve this, homes need to be of the right type, in the right numbers and in the right place. These awards, celebrating those organisations, individuals and projects that make such a positive difference to the Somerset countryside, are therefore at the very heart of what Hastoe does – providing sustainable homes that help rural communities thrive. Congratulations to all the winners.”

Winners were announced across five categories, including:

• Housing solution award
• Rooftop solar award
• Blue or green spaces award
• Countryside access award
• Countryside changemaker award

Find out about all the winners here.

Connexus announces new chief financial officer and new material supply contracts

Connexus has announced the appointment of Andrew Palmer as its new Chief Finance Officer, who will join the organisation this autumn.

Andrew brings nearly 20 years’ experience in the housing sector and more than a decade as a qualified accountant. He joins Connexus from Aspire Housing, where he spent around five years as part of the Executive Team, leading Finance, Procurement, Governance and Risk.

Before joining Aspire, Andrew spent five years at Walsall Housing Group (whg) in a senior finance role.

Kate Smith, Chief Executive at Connexus, said: “I’m really pleased to welcome Andrew to Connexus. He brings a strong track record of financial leadership in the housing sector, alongside the experience and strategic insight that will help us continue to strengthen our financial position and deliver on our long-term Corporate Plan ambitions.”

In parallel, and following a competitive procurement process, Connexus has also announced the outcome of their materials supply contracts tender. 

• Lot one – Plumbing and heating materials has been awarded to Wolseley UK Limited
• Lot two – Electrical materials has been awarded to City Electrical Factors (CEF)
• Lot three – General building materials has been awarded to Travis Perkins Trading Company Limited.

Fleur Whittington, director of property said “Our geography and the challenges of being a rural housing association with greater distances between jobs means we needed to find a very bespoke approach for our materials supply contract. We believe that our new supplier model will give us better rural coverage, more local merchants and increased access to dedicated specialised expertise.”

Renters Rights Act provisions come into force for private rentals

Tom Marsters, Housing & Homelessness Manager from the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership writes:

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 represents the most significant overhaul of private renting law in England for decades, fundamentally shifting the balance of power between landlords and tenants. Introduced as part of a broader programme of housing reform, the Act aims to improve security, fairness and standards across a sector that has long been criticised for instability and inconsistent quality. It became law on 27 October 2025, with many of its key provisions coming into force from 1 May 2026, marking a clear break from the previous system built around assured shorthold tenancies.

At the centre of the legislation is the abolition of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions. Previously, landlords could end a tenancy with little justification provided procedural requirements were met, which contributed significantly to housing insecurity and was recognised as a leading cause of homelessness. Under the new framework, landlords must now rely on Section 8 grounds for possession, meaning they need to demonstrate a valid legal reason to regain their property. This shift is intended to give tenants greater confidence to enforce their rights, such as requesting repairs or challenging rent increases, without fear of retaliatory eviction.

Alongside these changes, the Act removes fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies entirely and replaces them with periodic tenancies. This means tenancies no longer have a defined end date and instead continue a rolling basis until either party decides to bring them to an end in accordance with the law. For tenants, this offers increased flexibility and stability, as they can leave with notice while no longer being tied into rigid fixed terms. For landlords, the system is more regulated, requiring adherence to clearly defined statutory processes and possession grounds.

The Act also introduces reforms to rent setting and affordability protections. Rent increases are now restricted to formal processes, typically limited to once per year and subject to challenge through a tribunal if they are considered excessive or not reflective of market value. These provisions are designed to prevent landlords from using sharp rent rises as a mechanism to force tenants out, while still allowing rents to reflect market conditions where justified.

In addition to tenancy reform and rent regulation, the Act introduces a series of wider protections aimed at improving conditions and access across the private rented sector. These include a ban on rental bidding practices, restrictions on large upfront payments, and new rules preventing discrimination against tenants with children or those in receipt of benefits. Tenants also gain a strengthened right to request permission to keep pets, with landlords required to provide reasonable justification if they refuse. Collectively, these measures are intended to reduce barriers to housing and promote a more consistent and equitable renting experience.

The legislation further strengthens oversight and enforcement by introducing new mechanisms such as a private rented sector database and an ombudsman scheme. These measures are designed to improve transparency, provide clearer routes for dispute resolution, and enable greater accountability across the sector. At the same time, housing standards are reinforced through the extension of requirements such as the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law, ensuring landlords are held to higher expectations in maintaining safe and habitable properties.

From an operational perspective, the Act represents a substantial shift for local authorities and housing services. The move away from Section 21 notices has implications for homelessness prevention duties, with Section 8 notices now acting as the primary trigger for intervention. This is expected to increase complexity in casework, as officers must assess evidence-based possession grounds and engage earlier in prevention activity.

Overall, the Renters’ Rights Act seeks to create a more stable and transparent private rented sector by embedding greater security for tenants while maintaining a structured framework for landlords to operate within. Its success will depend not only on the legislative changes themselves but also on effective enforcement, sufficient court capacity, and the ability of services to adapt to a more complex but potentially more preventative system.

Hastoe Development Director retires after 20 years at rural housing specialist

Ulrike Maccariello will be retiring from Hastoe Housing Association at the end of July, following a distinguished 20-year career at the rural housing specialist that has included serving as Development Director for the last seven years.

Chris Meadows, formerly Hastoe’s Regional Development Manager for the West and Sales Manager, has now taken on the role of Development Director.

In other changes to the team, Mike Cramp, currently Regional Development Manager for the East, has become Head of Development, with responsibility for development across all regions. 

Lindy Morgan, Hastoe Board Chair, says: “Uli has demonstrated an admirable commitment to delivering affordable rural homes. This, as anyone knows who works in development, is no mean feat, but through her dedication, tenacity and determination she has enabled more people to stay in their communities or go back to their communities. She has achieved a huge amount in her time at Hastoe and should be enormously proud of her legacy. Ulrike leaves behind her a very skilled and passionate Development team, and I wish Chris and the rest of his team all the very best in their new challenges.”

Ulrike says: “The network of fantastic people I have had the privilege to work with are part of the reason I have stayed at Hastoe for so long. I am enormously grateful for all the opportunities I have had and the partnerships and friendships I have made. Rural housing is a topic that will always remain close to my heart, and I am delighted to see Chris become Development Director, as he has a real passion and enthusiasm for Hastoe and our values. I wish him and the rest of the team lots of success in their new roles.”

Rural Affairs Podcast launched

The Rural Affairs Podcast is a new podcast series from English Rural, exploring the ideas, challenges and people shaping rural England today.

The aim is simple: to open up informed discussion on often complex rural issues, cutting through jargon and bringing together voices from across the rural and countryside sector in a way that’s engaging, relevant and easy to follow.

Discussions span a wide range of themes, including:

Planning and place?making

• Rural housing and affordability
• Landscape, heritage and conservation
• Rural enterprise and economic resilience
• Representation and voice in rural policymaking

The podcast brings together leading thinkers, practitioners and advocates from across the sector to explore these themes from multiple perspectives, grounded in evidence, lived experience and practical insight.

Speaking of the launch of the podcast, Chief Executive at English Rural and podcast host Martin Collwtt, said:

“We know there’s an appetite for deeper dives into the challenges and opportunities facing rural communities, and until now that space hasn’t really been filled. The launch of the Rural Affairs Podcast is a genuinely exciting moment, offering a fresh platform to bring together voices from across the sector in an engaging and accessible way.”

The first podcast is available now. Is planning sexy?