Introduction: A Vision of a Powered-Up Countryside
Britain’s mission to deliver secure, clean, and affordable power is one of the great opportunities of our time. The rolling hills and open landscapes of our countryside are the engine room of this green revolution, poised to host the wind turbines, solar farms, and innovative technologies that will power our future. For too long, we have viewed this challenge through the wrong lens.
This is not a story about sacrifice or burden. It is a story of immense potential. It is about unlocking a powerful synergy between the homes we live in and the energy we produce. The very communities on the frontline of our clean energy transition currently have the greatest potential for energy efficiency gains. This is not a weakness, but a monumental opportunity for investment, innovation, and renewal.
This report, for #RuralHousingWeek 2025, reframes the debate. It demonstrates that investing in high-quality, energy-efficient rural housing is one of the most direct and effective ways to accelerate our journey to a clean energy future. By building and upgrading homes, we can slash energy waste, reduce bills, build a skilled green workforce, and create a powerful consensus for the infrastructure that will secure our national energy independence. This is a blueprint for turning our rural communities into the leaders of the green revolution.
The Great Green Opportunity: Unlocking Billions in Savings and Security
The ambition for a clean energy future begins at home. Across the countryside, there is a vast, untapped resource: the potential to make our homes warmer, more comfortable, and dramatically more efficient. This represents one of the biggest green opportunities available to us, a chance to simultaneously cut carbon emissions, tackle fuel poverty, and unlock billions in economic benefits.
The scale of this opportunity is clear. While rural households are almost twice as likely to live in a home that doesn’t meet the Decent Homes Standard, this simply highlights the prize on offer. Upgrading these homes is a high-return investment. Research from Citizens Advice shows that bringing just 13 million inefficient homes up to standard by 2030 would unlock almost £40 billion in cumulative benefits. This includes saving consumers £24 billion on their energy bills and saving our NHS £2 billion through improved health outcomes.
This isn’t just about saving money; it’s about boosting our national energy security. The most inefficient rural homes can consume roughly double the energy of modern, efficient ones. Every home we upgrade reduces the overall strain on the national grid, making the transition to clean power faster and more affordable for everyone. By focusing on the 32% of rural homes still reliant on volatile oil or solid fuel, we can accelerate the move to clean heat, protecting households from global price shocks and building a more resilient Britain.
The Power of Place: Fusing Homes, Skills, and Clean Energy
A successful clean energy transition is built on a foundation of people, skills, and community support. Investing in affordable, energy-efficient rural housing is the catalyst that fuses these elements together, creating a virtuous cycle of progress.
First, it builds public support for the new infrastructure our country needs. It is far easier to welcome a new pylon or wind farm when your own home is warm, and your bills are low. By directly linking national infrastructure projects to local benefits–such as community funds to retrofit village halls or discounts on energy bills for residents–we can turn development into a tangible win for the people who host it.
Second, it provides the homes needed to build our future green workforce. The clean energy revolution is creating hundreds of thousands of high-quality jobs, from wind turbine technicians to retrofit specialists. The wind industry alone will need over 112,000 workers by 2030. Many of these jobs are based in rural and coastal areas, but a chronic shortage of affordable homes creates a skills bottleneck, preventing people from moving to where their talents are needed most. By building the right homes in the right places, we can ensure that the economic benefits of the green transition are felt in every corner of the country.
Finally, it stimulates local economies. Building and retrofitting homes creates demand for local builders, plumbers, and electricians, supporting small businesses and creating apprenticeships. This is how we build the skills base for the future, ensuring the countryside has the talent to not only host the green revolution but to lead it.
Blueprints for a Better Britain: Stories from the Clean Energy Frontline
Across the country, pioneering communities and housing associations, such as English Rural, are already showing what is possible. They are not waiting for the future; they are building it today, providing powerful blueprints for success that can be scaled up nationwide.
Pioneering Low-Carbon Living in Hambledon, Surrey
In the heart of the Surrey Hills, the Hambledon development demonstrates how affordable housing can meet the highest sustainability standards without compromising rural character. Delivered in January 2024, the nine new homes – 77% of which are affordable – were built using “Fabric First” principles. With photovoltaic solar panels and gas heating systems optimised for efficiency, the homes achieved an average EPC rating of B90, with two dwellings reaching A95. A swale system for surface water and a sewage treatment plant complete the scheme’s eco credentials. This is a shining example of how village-scale developments can lead the charge towards net-zero living.
Biodiversity and Carbon Goals Aligned at Chequers Field, Kent
At Chequers Field near Bough Beech, English Rural’s upcoming eight-home scheme demonstrates environmental stewardship from the ground up. Drawing on ecological insights gained during a team away day at Bore Place, the development is set to embed biodiversity net gain principles and incorporate low-carbon technologies like Air Source Heat Pumps. The team’s visit included hands-on engagement with sustainable farming and wildlife habitats, reinforcing their commitment to design that works with – not against – the natural environment.
Nature-Inclusive Design in Roxwell, Essex
The Glebe Meadow development in Roxwell illustrates how affordable housing can coexist with – and even enhance – the natural environment. Delivered through a close partnership between English Rural, the Diocese of Chelmsford, the Parish Council, and Chelmsford City Council, the scheme was carefully planned around a central green space, ensuring the protection of mature oak trees with preservation orders. Homes were built using ‘Fabric First’ principles to ensure energy efficiency and reduced emissions. In addition, the site design prioritised landscape sensitivity and long-term ecological benefit, aligning with modern biodiversity net gain ambitions.
A Five-Point Plan to Power Up the Countryside
The solutions are clear, proven, and delivering results. To accelerate progress and unleash the full potential of our countryside, we need a bold national plan. For Rural Housing Week 2025, we call for a strategy built on four key ambitions:
Conclusion: A Shared Future of Clean Power and Prosperity
Rural England can be the launchpad, not the laggard, of Britain’s clean energy future. The current situation–where the communities essential to the green transition live in our nation’s least efficient homes–is a missed opportunity.
By welding an ambitious, energy-focused rural housing strategy to our national clean power mission, we can deliver a cascade of benefits. This approach will cut carbon and fuel poverty simultaneously, win community consent for vital national projects, and anchor thousands of high-quality green jobs where they are needed most. Investing in warm rural homes is the catalyst that will power the nation. It is time to build a future of clean power and shared prosperity for all.
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