We’re excited to announce the launch of the English Rural Podcast, a new platform for exploring the big issues shaping life in the countryside—starting with a powerful inaugural episode released to mark Rural Housing Week 2025.
Hosted by Martin Collett, Chief Executive of English Rural, our first episode brings together two highly influential voices in rural housing and countryside policy:
Together, they explore the systemic challenges and opportunities surrounding the delivery of affordable housing in rural England. From land availability and planning reform to the role of landowners and communities, this episode offers a timely and thought-provoking conversation.
“If we carry on as we are, it will take us 82 years to clear what exists already on the social waiting lists in rural communities.” – Roger Mortlock, CPRE
“It’s taking on average nearly 11 years to get planning permission for some of the affordable housing projects our members want to deliver.” – Bella Murfin, CLA
“Only around 17% of rural local planning authorities delivered an exception site in a given year—meaning 83% didn’t. That’s a huge, missed opportunity.” – Martin Collett, English Rural
The episode also introduces practical policy ideas, including a proposed “rural exception site planning passport”, and calls for stronger collaboration between landowners, local authorities, and community housing providers.
The episode is available now on our YouTube channel here.
Join the conversation on social media using #EnglishRuralPodcast and #RuralHousingWeek.
Rural Housing Week 2025 (7–11 July) is a national campaign led by the National Housing Federation. It highlights the vital role of affordable housing in sustaining rural communities and comes at a pivotal time as the government’s long-term housing strategy and Spending Review take shape.
For media enquiries or more information, please contact:
Head of Communications, David Barrowcliff – david.barrowcliff@englishrural.org.uk
Communications & Administrative Officer, James Crawford-Smith – james.crawford-smith@englishrural.org.uk
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