1. Rural Affordable Housing in the Cotswolds- an Oxfordshire Perspective Tom McCulloch Rural Housing Enabler Oxfordshire Rural Community Council

2. Housing affordable to those who cannot afford market priced housing locally to either rent or buy West Oxfordshire DC- Affordable Housing on Rural Exception Sites

3. Affordable Housing- why is it needed in rural areas? House prices: £256 000 House prices: £256 000 Income: lower Income: lower Cost of living: higher Cost of living: higher Rural homelessness: growing Rural homelessness: growing

4. Affordable Housing- Benefits Social cohesion Social cohesion Services Services Family support Family support Local residents want affordable housing Local residents want affordable housing The local need is there The local need is there

5. How to deliver rural affordable housing Local planning policy Local planning policy Community Land Trusts Community Land Trusts Community Right to Build Community Right to Build Rural Exception Sites Rural Exception Sites

6. Rural Exception Sites (RES) in West Oxfordshire RES developments RES developments –small scale –local need –local connections AONB policy AONB policy Completions Completions –91 units in AONB –28 units pending –200+ total units in West Oxfordshire –100+ units pending

7. Oxfordshire Rural Housing Partnership (ORHP) RES RES Homes and Communities Agency- highly effective delivery mechanism Homes and Communities Agency- highly effective delivery mechanism 300+ completed, 100+ pending 300+ completed, 100+ pending Local homes for local people (S106 agreement) Local homes for local people (S106 agreement) Code 3 building regulations (sustainability) Code 3 building regulations (sustainability) Local building style Local building style Consultation, consultation! Consultation, consultation!

8. Woodstock (2010)

9. Stonesfield (2002)

10. Ramsden Ramsden (2010) (2010)

11. Southmoor, Vale (2007)

12. Challenges National affordable housing budget: £4.5 billion over 4 years (60% cut) National affordable housing budget: £4.5 billion over 4 years (60% cut) £2.3 billion allocated- £2.2 billion remains £2.3 billion allocated- £2.2 billion remains Target- 150 000 new homes Target- 150 000 new homes Intermediate rent- up to 80% of market value Intermediate rent- up to 80% of market value Structural ‘un-affordability’? Structural ‘un-affordability’? DEFRA- rural housing 1 of 4 priorities DEFRA- rural housing 1 of 4 priorities Difficulties ahead but ORHP well-placed Difficulties ahead but ORHP well-placed

13. Final words… ‘Decent housing helps give people a sense of dignity and pride. We feel very lucky.’

14. ‘We’d lived in this parish for over 40 years but wouldn’t have been able to stay if we hadn’t been offered this home. Now we can help out with our new grandson.’

15. ‘These homes are playing an invaluable part in protecting the future of the village because local people whose families have lived in the area for generations were being squeezed out by wealthier newcomers.’