Halstead: A Case Study In Partnership Working

English Rural Housing Association, established in 1991, is one of the leading researchers and developers of rural affordable housing in England, working with a variety of partners to tackle the housing crisis in rural communities.

English Rural believes that if the social and economic health of rural communities is to be maintained, then the population should include people from a range of incomes and age groups. Too often, local people find themselves unable to obtain affordable housing within their local community and are forced to move out to urban areas where affordable homes are more readily available. This has the effect of undermining family and community networks. Developing just a small number of affordable homes plays a vital role in safeguarding a vibrant, active, and working village.

Anne, one of English Rural’s residents, first became aware of two homes being offered for affordable rent by English Rural Housing Association on a new Croudace development in Halstead, via a Facebook post by Halstead Parish Council. She had lived in Halstead all her life and was currently living with family, sharing a bedroom with her young child.

Images of Anne’s home, provided by English Rural with the support of Sevenoaks District Council, Halstead Parish Council, and the local community

It was important to Anne that she remained in the village where she has support from family and friends. Reflecting on her experience, Anne said:

“The process was straightforward; I simply registered my interest in the home with English Rural. They told me when the homes would be advertised on Kent Homechoice and I was able to submit a bid. I was so pleased to be offered a home and we love living here in Halstead. My child loves having their own bedroom and space to play without disturbing others. It’s made a big difference to our lives; we’re so happy to have a home to call our own. The English Rural Housing Manager has been great and helped me with any moving-in queries I had”.

Sevenoaks District Council is an area of high housing needs coupled with high property prices. It therefore gave full support to English Rural to secure two genuinely affordable homes for rent on the Croudace development. Local planning policy means new affordable homes are secured on all new build sites wherever possible. The District Council is working with its thirty-one Parish and Town Councils and the Rural Housing Enabler to survey all areas and identify local housing needs. With an up-to-date survey in place, it meant the new homes could be allocated through Kent Homechoice to applicants with a local connection to Halstead and Knockholt Parishes. The Council is working with English Rural to deliver similar homes in many more parishes.

All English Rural’s affordable homes are occupied by people with a proven connection to the village in which they are built. The homes are not subject to the Right to Acquire or the voluntary Right to Buy and so remain in the community for future generations.