Midlands Rural Housing helping to boost affordable homes in rural Leicestershire

Communities in Leicestershire’s rural areas are set to benefit from a new package of government funding designed to unlock affordable housing opportunities.

A new scheme has been set up to help deliver the Government’s goal of increasing the supply of affordable homes in rural areas, set out in their 2023 Unleashing Rural Opportunity strategy.

The scheme, which is being delivered by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) on behalf of Defra, has committed £2.5million to fund a network of Rural Housing Enablers (RHEs) across England. RHEs are independent advisors who work with communities to support the development of affordable housing schemes that meet the needs of local people.

In recognition of their rural housing expertise, Rural Community Council (Leicestershire and Rutland) (RCC) employed Midlands Rural Housing’s consultancy service to help shape their bid for over £65,000 of the funding, which was successfully awarded.

Over the next year, Midlands Rural will continue working with RCC and communities in Leicestershire, to help deliver small-scale developments which are often the only source of affordable housing in a village. Kevin Butcher, Executive Director of the RCC for Leicestershire and Rutland said:

“It was really important that we secured this investment in local rural housing delivery.  We now need local communities, parish councils and housing developers to step up and help us deliver some local homes for local people.”

Philippa McKenna, Project Delivery Manager at Midlands Rural Housing said:

“We’re delighted to have been chosen as RCC for Leicestershire and Rutland's rural housing enabling partner for the coming year. This essential funding from Defra has really helped to unlock a fantastic opportunity to widen the existing network of Rural Housing Enablers, and to create partnerships that will hopefully become long standing ones.

"It’s so important for people to feel they are working with organisations who are also committed to understanding and responding to the needs of local communities in rural areas.”

For further information

If you'd like to find out more, please contact Philippa McKenna, Project Delivery Manager at MRH on 0300 1234 009 or enquiries@midlandsrural.org.uk

Published 11.04.2024