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A Design Guide: Building Tomorrow's Rural Communities

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English Rural Housing Association, in collaboration with a panel of rural experts and advocates, has launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming the perception of affordable rural housing. The publication, titled 'A Design Guide: Building Tomorrow's Rural Communities', was officially released on Friday, 5th July  as part of Rural Housing Week 2024.

The guide features a compelling Foreword by HRH The Princess Royal, underlining the significance of this pioneering work in addressing the rural housing crisis and promoting sustainable, beautiful, and affordable homes in the countryside.

Unveiled at the picturesque Ellenborough Park Hotel, the guide demonstrates that, with the right approach, new homes built in the countryside can be both beautiful and affordable. It showcases exemplary design principles from across England, featuring distinctive illustrations by renowned author and architectural illustrator Matthew Rice.

The guide is divided into five main sections: the future of rural communities; the importance of well-designed homes; the village landscape; designing with tradition; and building towards tomorrow. Alongside HRH The Princess Royal's Foreword, it features expert contributions from Martin Collett, Jo Lavis, Matthew Rice and other respected rural advocates.

The launch event also highlighted the broader rural housing crisis:

  • Rural house prices have skyrocketed by an astonishing 29% over the past five years, far outpacing growth in rural wages.
  • Shockingly, only 8% of the rural housing stock is classified as affordable, compared to 19% in urban areas.
  • 28% of people in social housing face stigma from their neighbours and 15% from housing officials

 

The guide includes a practical toolkit for villages looking to inform the design of new homes in their community. This toolkit is designed to empower local communities to take an active role in shaping the future of their built environment.

You can read more here.

If you want to find out more about the role of our new Rural Housing Enabler, click here.