Rural Housing Week: Homes England visits Broadacres to see affordable rural housing in action

Representatives from Homes England recently visited several Broadacres developments across North Yorkshire to see first-hand how affordable housing is helping rural communities thrive, and to better understand the unique challenges of delivering homes in villages and market towns.

The visit, which took place ahead of Rural Housing Week, welcomed Rebecca Greenwood, Head of Affordable Housing Growth for the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, alongside members of the regional team. They were joined by Broadacres Chief Executive Claire Townson, Director of Development and Investment Michael Jones and Director of Resources Andrew McColl.

Together they visited a range of developments including our 88-home scheme at Aiskew, an eight-home development at West Witton, and Kirkwood Hall, our extra care scheme in Leyburn.

The visit gave Homes England the opportunity to see the variety of rural affordable housing delivered by Broadacres, from larger developments in market towns to smaller village schemes that help local people remain close to their families, jobs and communities.

It also highlighted some of the challenges that come with building affordable homes in rural areas. Smaller developments, sensitive landscapes, local planning requirements, topography and the use of traditional materials can all increase costs and complexity compared with larger urban schemes.

At West Witton, for example, the homes have been carefully designed using traditional stone features to complement the surrounding Yorkshire Dales landscape while providing high-quality, affordable homes for local people.

During the visit, the Homes England team also met a Broadacres customer at West Witton, who spoke positively about their home and the difference it had made to their life.

Michael Jones said:

“It was a great opportunity to show Rebecca and her team the quality of the homes we build and the positive impact affordable housing has on rural communities. 

“Delivering homes in villages and market towns often brings additional challenges and costs, but these developments play a vital role in helping local people remain in the communities they know and love.

“With the right support, we can continue delivering high-quality affordable homes that strengthen rural communities and provide opportunities for future generations.

“One comment from the day really stayed with me. Rebecca said it must feel as though all your dreams had come true after waiting so long for a home like this. That perfectly captures why we do what we do. These schemes change lives and help ensure communities remain vibrant places to live and work.”

Homes England plays an important role in supporting the delivery of affordable housing by assessing funding applications and working with housing providers to bring forward developments that offer long-term value for communities.

The visit demonstrated how investment in rural affordable housing not only provides much-needed homes but also helps sustain local services, supports local economies and enables people to continue living in the places they call home.