Call for rural councils to think outside the box

Communities Minister Andrew Stunell is calling on farmers and rural councils to "think outside the box" to deliver more affordable housing.

The average house price in rural areas is £250,000, yet the average salary is only £21,000 a year, meaning many local people struggle to get on the housing ladder. Stunell wants to see farmers identify disused farm buildings that could be converted into new affordable homes for local people, and wants councils to look favourably on their planning applications.

The minister highlighted a scheme run by Harrogate Borough Council that requires developers to make provision on the site for affordable housing, resulting in 34 extra affordable homes across 19 sites.
Harrogate's approach is in the spirit of the "Home on the Farm" idea, championed by Stunell, which promotes conversion of disused farm buildings into new homes.

Andrew Stunell said: "Councils and rural communities need to think innovatively and outside the box to make sure they deliver the homes they need.

"The work by Harrogate Borough Council shows what can be done when a local authority thinks imaginatively about its affordable housing needs, and uses all the powers they have at their disposal.

"And with the measures announced in the Housing Strategy, the New Homes Bonus, FirstBuy, plus Neighbourhood Plans on the way from April 2012, the Coalition is making sure that councils have even more tools to get the job done.

"I'd like to congratulate Harrogate, and call on other rural councils to look at their example, and see what else they can do to work with local farmers and their communities to convert their disused buildings and deliver a home on the farm."