Delivering Rural Housing Together 2013 - 2014
Key Achievements 2013-2014 ‘‘We have a great CLT and a good scheme.....job done. Thank you both for your part in this.’’
172 homes started on site on 20 schemes 79 homes completed Planning consent granted for 311 homes on 29 schemes Supported 10 Community Consultations Assessed housing need in nearly 6400 households in 15 communities
‘‘The Affordable Housing is coming along really well. I am eternally grateful for your help.’’
Devon Rural Housing Partnership DRHP was formed to facilitate the development of affordable homes in rural locations. Partnership working has been proven to be the most effective method of producing affordable homes and this is borne out by the successes of the partnership. Over the last 5 years DRHP has facilitated the creation of over 300 new affordable homes in Devon and currently has 172 affordable homes under construction across the county. The partnership is made up of Local Authorities, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Registered Housing Providers and the Homes and Communities Agency. Our aim is to support rural communities in developing sufficient affordable housing to meet the needs of local people and to support the sustainability of rural communities. The partnership employs two Rural Housing Enablers, Sue Southwell and Janice Alexander who undertake an annually agreed programme of work which includes providing housing need surveys, assisting with site assessments and procurement and providing ongoing support and advice for parish councils, Community Land Trusts and other neighbourhood groups who wish to provide affordable housing for their residents. The Rural Housing Enablers have a track record of being honest brokers supporting rural communities and providing robust independent data.
Consultancy Service The Rural Housing Enablers undertake consultancy work in addition to the agreed programme of work undertaken for our Local Authority and Registered Provider partners. Services that the RHE team can provide include :• • • • • • • • • •
Housing need assessments in and outside of Devon Village site assessments Community development / engagement work Training and workshops Surveying of older people’s housing aspirations and needs Rural Home Energy Surveys Resident Satisfaction Surveys Assistance with Empty Homes Work Mystery Shopping Exercises Bespoke reports on any issue relating to rural affordable housing
We offer a professional and reliable service which can be tailored to fit our customers requirements. For further information on the services we can provide please talk to the RHE team on 01392 248919.
The Devon Rural Housing Awards celebrate exceptional achievement by individuals and organisations to deliver affordable housing projects for their local communities. The 2013 awards took place at the Community Council of Devon’s Annual Conference where both winning entries received cash prizes to support a community project of their choice.
Most Effective Community Award Christow Community Land Trust
The Christow Community Land Trust was founded in 2011 to
deliver affordable housing to the village. During this project they have engaged effectively with the wider community and have worked in partnership with Teign Housing, Dartmoor National Park Authority and Teignbridge District Council in a highly professional way. Such is their commitment and enthusiasm, they are now using their own experiences to help and advise other CLT’s in the area. The judges particularly wished to commend the tenacity of those involved within this project and the use of ‘passivhaus’ innovation to deliver low energy costs for residents. The award was collected by Briony Falch and Adrian Sargood.
Most Inspirational Individual
Peter Roper, Slapton Parish Clerk
Throughout his time as a Parish Clerk, for a number of Parish Councils, Peter has worked with great passion for the delivery of affordable housing. Having worked with the Parish Councils of Widecombe on the Moor and Slapton, perseverance and hard work has resulted in Peter realising his dream of affordable homes being delivered in both parishes with 7 homes being completed in Slapton in 2013. As well as commissioning the original housing need survey for Slapton, Peter was instrumental in securing the site and ensuring the best design for the scheme. The judges were particularly impressed by his drive and determination in bringing this scheme to completion.
“We wish to give you our heartfelt thanks for getting us to this advanced point. We would never have done so without your determination to solve this problem.”
We would also like to thank Southwestern Housing Society, Cornerstone and Guinness Hermitage for sponsoring the 2013 awards.
Homes completed with Rural Housing Enabler support 2013 - 2014
Whimple Spectrum Housing
Merton Devon & Cornwall Housing
Hemyock Hastoe Group
North Tawton
Devon & Cornwall Housing
Uplyme Guinness Hermitage
Yealmpton Sovereign Housing Group
Slapton Devon & Cornwall Housing
Stoke Fleming Southwestern Housing
Thank you from the Rural Housing Team Safe Hands
We would like to acknowledge the invaluable and professional help of Safe Hands at Exeter CVS who have printed and collated our housing need surveys for us. Devon Housing Partnership Safe Hands offers a volunteering opportunity for people with Rural additional support needs to perSafe Hands form admin and clerical tasks. Three members of the Delivery board have left We would like to acknowledge the us this year. Rachel Webdell, Chair of the board, invaluable and professional helpDevon of Rural Housing Partnership and Sue Hitchcock and John Scott, Rural Housing Safe Hands at Exeter for delivery board has resigned this year. We Rachel Webdell, Chair Council of the DRHP Enablers. Voluntary whotohave printed andmuch valued contribution to the work of the DRHP and express ourService gratitude Rachel for her We thank them for their valued contribution and collated ourthe housing need wish her all best for thesurveys future.for Sue Hitchcock, who was one best of the Housing Enablers wish them all the forRural the future. us. Safe Hands a volunteering with the CCD hasoffers retired this year after () years with the organisation. Her experience and opportunity forbe people additional knowledge will sadly with missed and we wish her all the best in her retirement. support needs to perform admin and And a special thank you to all the people in clerical tasks. rural communities who helped to promote rural affordable housing schemes for local people.
What does the future hold? The partnership will continue their programme to provide quality affordable homes for local people, with a large number of projects at varying stages of progress throughout the county. A new round of Homes and Communities Agency funding bids have now been awarded, enabling more communities to begin the process of building new affordable homes in their villages and towns. The partnership will continue to work with Wessex CLT Project to encourage the formation of new Community Land Trusts across Devon. Guinness Hermitage - Bradninch under construction
The partnership is becoming increasingly involved in offering advice and assistance to community self build groups and will be conducting research and holding events to promote the understanding of self-build housing.
Community Council of Devon, First Floor, 3 & 4 Cranmere Court, Lustleigh Close Matford Business Park, Exeter, EX2 8PW t: 01392 248919 e: info@devonrcc.org.uk