MPs debate solutions for affordable village homes

MPs from across the political spectrum gathered in Westminster Hall yesterday (25 February) to highlight the growing affordable housing crisis threatening the viability of rural communities throughout the UK. 

Leading the debate, Labour MP Olivia Bailey (Reading West and Mid Berkshire) painted a stark picture of beautiful countryside villages where skyrocketing house prices have made it impossible for younger generations to remain in their communities. “One constituent in Bradfield shared her story with me. Her daughter would love to be able to stay in the village that she grew up in, but there are no affordable houses that are the right size for her young family,” Ms Bailey explained. 

The debate highlighted the impacts of poor housing availability that lie behind the statistics. As Ms Bailey noted, “Without affordable housing, schools close because there are not enough children to fill a class; pubs shut their doors because there are not enough punters to buy pints; and services for the elderly stop operating because there is nobody to volunteer. We simply cannot have a community without people, and those people need affordable homes.” 

Several interconnected challenges were identified throughout the discussion: 

Soaring rural property prices: Ms Bailey noted that “house prices in the countryside increased at close to twice the rate of those in urban areas” over a recent five-year period.

Second homes and short-term lets: MPs from coastal and tourist destinations described communities where up to 40% of properties are second homes or holiday lets, severely restricting housing availability for locals.

Developer loopholes: Helena Dollimore MP (Labour, Hastings and Rye) described how developers frequently “use loopholes around viability to wriggle out of their responsibility to deliver affordable housing,” citing a recent development in her constituency where 41 homes were approved with none classified as affordable. 

Social housing stock depletion: Ms Bailey highlighted how social housing providers including Sovereign have been selling off affordable rural properties, moving them permanently into the private market at unaffordable prices. 

The Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook MP (Greenwich and Woolwich), outlined related government initiatives. The Budget had included a £500 million top-up to the existing affordable homes program to deliver 5,000 new social and affordable homes, followed by an additional £300 million injection announced earlier this month. Plans are in place to strengthen rural exception sites policy, which allows affordable housing development on land where standard housing would not normally be permitted. Compulsory purchase powers are (not uncontroversially) to be reformed, and new “golden rules” implemented for green belt development requiring higher percentages of affordable housing. 

The Minister also acknowledged the importance of rural housing enablers in facilitating community-led developments, although he could not commit to specific funding continuation. 

Several MPs highlighted successful local initiatives. Ms Dollimore described how even the tiny village of Icklesham in her constituency had formed a Community Land Trust to build 15 social rent units. “If a village the size of Icklesham can do it,” she said, “anywhere can deliver affordable social housing, whether rural or urban.” 

The debate suggested cross-party recognition that rural communities face unique housing challenges requiring targeted solutions. With the government committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes, the Minister promised further consultation on national development management policies this spring, with particular attention to rural needs. 

Ms Bailey summed up the urgency felt across the chamber: “From Beech Hill to Mortimer, from Beenham to Compton, from Hampstead Norreys to East and West Ilsley, and from Upper Bucklebury to Upper Basildon, we can build the affordable housing that is so vital for these beautiful villages to continue thriving far into the future.”