Rural Housing Week

The National Housing Federation has organised a North West Rural Housing Week spanning 27 January - 3 February 2012.
 
The week is intended to demonstrate and promote the important role affordable housing plays in maintaining small rural communities.
 
Housing Associations provide a place to live for local people who might otherwise be priced out of their home area. Just a small number of new affordable homes can also benefit the whole community and help to sustain local businesses and services.
 
Eden Housing Association has been playing its part in this for many years, in recent times with development in Coniston, Pooley Bridge, Lazonby, Newbiggin, Langwathby, Melmerby, Tebay, Threlkeld and Glenridding to name a few enabling local people to remain close to home.
 
Government grant towards the provision of affordable housing is now greatly reduced resulting in a reduced development programme in the years ahead. This taken with the coalition's proposals to further grow 'Right to Buy' could leave rural districts like Eden in an increasingly challenging position in meeting the growing demand for affordable housing.
 
Our modest development programme over the next couple of years will focus on rural areas and the development of bungalows and apartments for older people aimed at making it easier and more attractive for smaller and single older persons households to move from and release much needed family sized accommodation.
 
Dialogue with deep rural communities starting in Glenridding around local lettings policies that support sustainable communities will also take place very soon.
 
It is more vital than ever that we understand how we can, with others, help meet and overcome these challenges for the future of our rural communities.
 
John Clasper
Managing Director