Environment and roads

Rural (Affordable) Housing Enabling Project

Description of Project - This project operates principally in North Herts, Dacorum, Welwyn Hatfield and St Albans districts but also ‘signposts’ throuigh telephone and email advice to other Hertfordshire districts especially East Herts.

The project is focussed around working with local councils (parish & district level) and local community groups to identify and quantify local need for affordable housing. The project then seeks to identify suitable sites for development in order to meet specific local needs in conjunction with parish and district councils, housing associations and landowners.

Following on from this the project continues to work with the local community, housing and planning officers and housing associations to bring to fruition successful, affordable housing schemes, including supporting such schemes in their applications for Housing Corporation funding and planning consent.

Where appropriate the project also comments on local planning documents, sub regional, regional and government housing and planning policies and consultations in order to facilitate the provision of affordable housing in rural Hertfordshire.

Evidence of Need for this Project Activity - The project has carried out some 38 housing need assessments commissioned by District and Parish Councils during the past 5 years, identifying a need for some form of affordable housing in the majority of them. It has been instrumental in identifying sites suitable to the local community and to planning Authorities, and providing evidence to support affordable rural housing schemes.

Key activities for 2006/07
Carrying out housing need surveys
Continuing work on village housing projects previously identified to ensure satisfactory progression
Commenting on planning documents as they arise
London Commuter Belt Sub Regional Rural housing/Land Availability conference (November 2006)

Link to Hertfordshire Local Area Agreement Blocks
Safer and Stronger Communities

Contact Details

Jo Stephens
Rural Housing Enabler
CDA for Herts
Birchwood Avenue, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 0PS

T: 01707 695520 (direct line)
F: 01707 695525
E: jo.stephens@cdaforherts.org.uk
w: www.cdaforherts.org.uk