Five new affordable homes in Tregony, Cornwall Dignity in times of adversity


The ARC-Addington Fund was established to lead the churches’ response to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in 2001. The Fund still responds in times of trouble within the farming and rural business sector. However the main work is a Strategic Rural Housing Scheme, to provide appropriate housing for those needing to exit a non-viable business. The remit has since been extended to include retirement.


The individual circumstances that the charity encounters in housing families is very concerning but all these families still have a huge amount to offer society. Another factor that keeps emerging is the vulnerability of our smaller and more remote rural settlements. Keeping one family with three young children within the catchment area of the local primary school prevented the closure of the school.


The provision of rural affordable housing is extremely limited and in many locations non-existent. Targets for creating new homes have not been met for several years and will be even harder to meet the needs in the future. More responsibility will fall on the voluntary and private sectors, and the ARC- Addington Fund welcomes the challenge. There is a huge potential for goodwill from many landowners that can be


A small contribution


The parish of Belbroughton in Worcestershire is made up of two villages: Belbroughton and the smaller village of Fairfield. The population profile is older than in the rest of Worcestershire, indicating out migration of younger people from the parish.


A significant proportion of the population has lived in the village for their whole lives and/or have family in the village to whom they give or receive support. The ratio of household income to house price is around 1:10 for an average home.


In 2002, the Worcestershire Rural


Housing Enabler was invited by the parish council to carry out a Housing Needs Survey. This showed that within five years, 15 households would genuinely need (not just aspire to) affordable housing. All had a strong local connection and were unable to afford an open-market home in the village. Plans were drawn up and in 2004, two public exhibitions were held to consult with the local community.


The preferred site for development was on Glebe land. It was within the green belt, outside the village envelope and adjacent to the


boundary of an existing 1960s development. A reasonable price for the site was agreed with the Diocese of Worcester and planning approval was granted for six rented, two shared-ownership and seven fixed- equity-sale properties (restricted in perpetuity to 57% of open-market value). Housing was secured for the 15 families needing it and contributed to the maintenance of a sustainable community.


For more information on the potential use of church land and property for affordable housing see Faith in Affordable Housing www.fiah.org.uk


www. countryway. org. uk 13 unlocked, if handled in a practical and respectful manner.


An exciting project near Tregony in Cornwall has already created five affordable homes from three redundant farm buildings. This was a national first in terms of planning. The other possibilities are endless.


Ian Bell OBE www.arc-addingtonfund.org.uk


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