A Home in the Countryside: The Fight for Affordable Rural Housing

Across Hampshire and beyond, a growing crisis is unfolding – one that threatens the very fabric of countryside communities.

At CPRE, we believe that everyone has a right to live in a home they can afford, wherever they live. But rural communities in England are facing a chronic shortage of genuinely affordable housing which is creating huge social housing waiting lists and forcing people out of the communities they know and love.

In a report examining the housing crisis, CPRE calls on the government to take urgent action and create a new generation of affordable and sustainable rural housing. The findings are stark: at current rates, some residents could wait up to 93 years for access to social housing. Meanwhile, rural homelessness has surged by 40% in just five years, driven by stagnating wages and soaring house prices.

The countryside, once a place of opportunity and community, is becoming increasingly out of reach for those who live and work there. Families are being priced out, young people are forced to leave, and essential workers struggle to find homes near their jobs. The chronic lack of genuinely affordable housing is not just a housing issue – it’s a threat to the future of rural life.

But there is hope. Across the country, community-led housing projects are proving that it’s possible to build homes that are both affordable and sustainable. These initiatives put local people at the heart of development, ensuring that housing meets real needs and strengthens the community.

Learn how you can get involved in promoting affordable housing in your local community.

Positive steps toward affordable rural housing

While the challenges around rural affordable housing are significant, organisations like Hastoe Housing are showing what’s possible with commitment and collaboration.

“As a specialist rural housing provider, we pride ourselves on the relationships we cultivate with each local community with which we build affordable homes. It’s important we all work to recognise the needs of local people and the local environment and important that we take all the necessary steps to start – and manage – the entire process from design through to handover.”

As part of Rural Housing Week, Hastoe Housing hosted an event to showcase the story behind the affordable housing development in Curdridge. The day included a guided site visit, lunch, and the opportunity to connect with local residents and stakeholders.

This development consists of eight new affordable homes within Curdridge Parish, specifically prioritised for households in housing need who have a strong local connection to the parish or nearby areas.

Key partners in bringing this project to life included Curdridge Parish Council, Winchester City Council, Hastoe Housing Association, landowner Rob Meadows, and the Rural Housing Enabler from Action Hampshire.

In addition, Hastoe Housing has also partnered with Hart District Council and Odiham Parish Council to deliver a new affordable housing development in Odiham. The project includes nine homes for social rent and three for shared ownership, all of which have been prioritised for individuals and families with a local connection to the parish. This initiative reflects a strong commitment to supporting local communities and ensuring that people can continue to live and work in the places they call home.

Learn more about Designing New Homes the Hastoe Way.

By investing in rural housing through schemes like this, we can protect the countryside not just as a landscape, but as a living, thriving place for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Celebrating homes that go beyond bricks and mortar

We’re delighted to welcome Hastoe Housing back as a sponsor at this year’s Countryside Awards which celebrate the inspiring efforts of individuals and organisations working to enhance and protect the countryside.

In light of the growing challenges facing the countryside, this year’s awards introduce an exciting new category: the Best Housing Solution Award. This category celebrates housing developments that are not only well-designed and environmentally conscious, but also deeply connected to the needs of local communities.

If you know of a project that goes beyond bricks and mortar – creating homes that truly support rural life – visit www.cprehampshire.org.uk to learn more and submit a nomination.