English devolution and rural affordable housing: Opportunities and risks

Jones, Demelza ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5985-1972, Kubinakova, Katarina ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9246-7473 and Mackley-Ward, Honor ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0791-0317 (2025) English devolution and rural affordable housing: Opportunities and risks. Project Report. Rural Housing Network.

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Abstract

This report for the Rural Housing Network examines opportunities and risks of English Devolution for rural affordable housing delivery. The research drew on case studies of rural and mixed rural-urban regions at different stages of the Devolution process as well as insights from a wider range of areas and national organisations. We found that Devolution offers clear opportunities to meet local rural affordable housing needs. But without national level safeguards, there is a risk of a postcode lottery with some places benefitting from rural investment while others do not. As the Devolution programme stands in its current form, the likelihood of a fair rural share will be highly dependent on areas' rural-urban geographies, local leadership priorities and the presence of strong rural housing partnerships to advocate for inclusion of smaller-scale rural affordable homes schemes. The research evidence supports calls for amendment of the Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to introduce a 'rural duty' for combined or mayoral authorities. Without this, English Devolution risks becoming a missed opportunity to deliver the affordable homes needed for a sustainable countryside, and the social and economic benefits this brings.

Item Type:	Monograph (Project Report)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Devolution, rural housing, affordable housing, social housing, rural communities
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > Countryside and Community Research Institute
Depositing User:	Demelza Jones
Date Deposited:	04 Dec 2025 13:07
Last Modified:	04 Dec 2025 13:07
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/15617

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