Affordable homes make economic sense

Affordable homes, and the people who live in them, make a significant contribution to the economic sustainability of rural communities.

Research by The Rural Services Network estimates that building just 10 affordable homes in a rural area can provide a £1.4million boost to their economy and supports 26 jobs for local people.

This is not just a research statistic.

Investment in the area

Take a look at the economic impact of eight Peak District Rural Association homes built in the village of Youlgrave in 2015.

In total the project has brought about £1.2m of new investment to Youlgrave. And the households also contribute to the wider economic and social life of the village - the school needs children to continue to be viable and the shops, post office and pubs need customers to stay in business.

Creates and sustains jobs

On a new scheme in Bearley, Warwickshire Rural Housing Association worked with students and graduates from New Meaning Training, a social enterprise that provides training and support for students who left school with few to no qualifications. By giving the young people the opportunity to contribute to this project, they learnt a trade, worked towards qualifications, and developed a way to earn an independent living.

And having an affordable place to live means businesses have access to a local workforce. Many of the people who live in our homes work in their village or close by and are able to continue to do so because they have a home they can afford.