The ARC-Addington Fund

Affordable Rural Housing

The Fund entered the affordable rural housing sector with a development in Cornwall.  There is more information on this below.  Vacancies sometimes arise - to be eligible you must live in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly and work in, or be retired from, a rural business.  For more information, contact the office on 02476 690587.  Trevorva Application Form
 
Affordable Rural Housing - Trevorva Barns, Probus, Cornwall
The Trevorva development is an affordable housing scheme specifically for rural people and demonstrates an imaginative solution to a well-documented problem.

The Problem
The Affordable Rural Housing Commission’s inquiry confirmed an acute shortage of affordable rural housing. Causes include: the advent of technology enabling many people to live and work in rural areas; rising costs of moving resulting in many houses being improved and extended, depleting the stock of raditional ‘first time buys’ and in attractive areas second home ownership can price locals out of the market. To compound the problem, in many rural locations average earnings are low, creating a greater differential between income and house prices than is seen nationally.

The fabric of rural communities is inextricably linked with agriculture. Farming families are one of the few constants in an increasingly mobile population and their contribution, both economic and social, to their local community is invaluable. A major barrier to this continuity, however, is the lack of affordable, appropriate and available housing.

Housing does not only need to be affordable - it must also be appropriate to the family concerned. To maintain an economically sound rural economy, with a sustainable social structure, homes must be available near places of work, family and friends. Key worker schemes already exist in urban areas for those considered to be essential to the community. It is the ARC-Addington Fund’s belief that those who work within the countryside are of equal value.

The Solution

In 2004 the Fund was given an opportunity to enter this sector when Cornwall County Council offered it a redundant farmyard resulting from the amalgamation of three dairy farms into two. The three barns provided scope to provide five affordable units, with the farmhouse to subsidise them. Having overcome such hurdles as the planning application and negotiation of a Section 106 agreement, an application for Objective One funding was successfully made and contracts were finally exchanged. Construction work began in July 2005 and the project was opened by HRH The Prince of Wales in June 2006.

This scheme is, we believe, unique. Eligibility for most affordable housing is based on location, radiating outwards from the parish concerned. This is the first where the applicant’s occupation is paramount: eligibility is confined to those working within, or retiring from, a rural business. For those who have always lived in the country, particularly on farms, finding suitable homes is difficult. Social housing is in short supply and, when available, is often in an inappropriate, urban environment. The barn conversions provide a variety of sized units, from one to three bedrooms, providing the scope to accommodate single people to families. An element of ‘age proofing’ has been built into the two single storey barns, with provision for disabled access if it becomes necessary. The scheme is secured by the planning obligation and all will remain in the rented sector, thus ensuring they remain affordable in years to come.

Affordable housing requires some form of subsidy. In this project it has been achieved by a combination of factors. Objective One funding was granted. The farmhouse has been renovated to a high standard and is let on the open market to subsidise the barns. Rents for these were assessed with guidance from the Rent Officer and are at least 33% lower than open market values.

The result is a development of five affordable homes to support rural workers, from young people starting out to retired farmers. Often the barrier to progression within the industry is lack of appropriate housing for those wishing to leave a farm; by providing this, opportunities arise for those wishing to enter agriculture.

Rural Homes for Rural People - not a luxury, but an essential.

If you would like to discuss other potential projects, please contact Sue Eeley on 02476 690587 or .