The ACRE Network works to create thriving, inclusive and sustainable rural communities that are economically active and support the services they need. We believe no one should be disadvantaged by where they live.
The new Government has put economic growth at the heart of its five missions. Much of its path to this growth involves the planning system, by meeting housing need, and through development of infrastructure. In its words: “Labour will seek involvement from industry, trade unions, and civil society in our plans for growth, so they can contribute to building a stronger economy in all parts of the country”. Rural areas cover 90% of England and contain 17% of the population, roughly the same number as London. If ‘rural’ was a region it would be second only to London in its economic size.
A consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has been undertaken alongside several initiatives concerning New Towns, Green Belt policy, amendments to house building targets and calculation, and greater emphasis on social and affordable housing. The ACRE Network (collectively and as individual members) has commented on changes to the NPPF but is also concerned about the impact on rural communities from others of this raft of policies. There are also policy initiatives that have recently been under consideration but may not now be progressed, despite being consistent with the Government’s overall mission.
It is essential that Neighbourhood Planning policy is further developed and moves beyond mainly considering where housing will be located to become a positive way of enabling rural communities to provide for all their residents’ needs. This can help them consider growth at the very local scale, adapt to local impacts of climate change, contribute to the country’s climate change mitigation strategy and manage local ‘nature-based’ solutions to both.
We support the emphasis that a new Government has put on social and affordable housing but would like to see much greater commitment to achieving this in rural communities, as well as in major settlements, New Towns and urban extensions. In this context it is essential that the definition of affordability is urgently amended so that homes are only described as ‘affordable’ if this means both in perpetuity and related directly to what local people can actually afford.
We supported proposals to enable regulation of second homes and short term lets to retain housing stock for local communities. We strongly encourage the new Government to pursue this policy making it possible for Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to ensure local housing is not lost to people working in the local economy.
We strongly encourage the development of an England land use strategy; but only if this is fully integrated into the whole planning system. Restoration of strategic planning over larger areas than single LPAs is a welcome start. Rural communities can make a significant contribution to both housing and wider economy economic growth, but only if they are properly supported with services and infrastructure. However, both strategic and local planning authorities must be given a more robust policy basis for ‘sustainable development’; one that does not simplistically equate ‘urban and dense’ with ‘sustainable’. The current definition in the NPPF takes little account of the contribution that development / growth can make to ensuring smaller communities become increasingly sustainable in terms of local services, schools, jobs, social cohesion, reduced travel needs and inter-generational support.
The Government has put most emphasis on delivering social and affordable housing ‘at scale’ and ‘at pace’. Whilst we agree, we are also very concerned that this appears to apply solely to New Towns, urban extensions, and ‘grey belt’ locations. Every rural community in England, including those within designated landscapes, must be given the opportunity to provide housing and infrastructure for all who need it. The development process in these areas will, however, require energy to be allocated to engaging communities in the details and design of local schemes. We agree this engagement must be over ‘what and how’, not ‘if’, development will occur. The ACRE Network stands ready, including through the Rural Housing Enabler programme, the network of Community Led Housing Advisors, and forms of community-led planning to help make this a reality.
