Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

Rural communities
Need for housing
Regional Housing Strategy for the East of England: 2005–2010
Policy framework: providing mixed communities and widening
choice
Choice Based
lettings
Policies to achieve greater tenure diversification go hand in hand
with more flexible lettings policies that promote choice. The
Advisory Group on BME Social Housing, established in autumn
2004 is exploring how the new choice-based lettings schemes
affect BME groups, undertaking a full Race Equality Impact
Assessment of the policy. There is scope for the Region to inform
the work of this group. The RHDG will encourage sub-regions to
develop CBL to foster mobility and choice for tenants across the
Region. The RHDG will provide the catalyst for information
exchange between sub-regions as progress develops.
Housing options The approach to housing advice developed in ‘Should I stay or
should I go‘ pilot housing options for older people recognises the
value of external help at transition points in people’s lives. Local
housing authorities are encouraged to use a housing options
approach when giving housing advice.
Live/work space Local development frameworks should take account of the need
and opportunity to create live/work environments.
7.52 Under the new urban-rural classification 69% of the Region’s population lives in urban settlements
above 10,000 population (the national figure is 81%).
7.53 The East of England is characterised 28 as having a higher than average proportion of the
population living rurally, and a greater than average rural population growth rate. Rural areas in
the Region have proportionately fewer people under the age of 24 and more people aged 45 years
and older than urban areas.
7.54 A key issue affecting communities in rural areas of the East of England is access to good quality,
affordable housing. Local people, particularly young adults, find it increasingly difficult to stay in
their own communities which impacts on local employment.
7.55 The Region is blessed with natural beauty in the countryside and coastal areas, having a National
Park in the Broads and four Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Norfolk Coast; Suffolk
Coast and Heaths; Dedham Vale; and part of the Chilterns. Whilst this attracts welcome visitors
and income, it also means that second and holiday home ownership places additional pressures
on the housing market.
7.56 In order to form a regional picture of need and delivery, the Countryside Agency commissioned
a data collection project, which is now being taken forward through the Housing Sub Group of
the Regional Rural Affairs Forum.
28 The Countryside Agency ‘The state of the countryside in the East of England 2004‘
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