Our commitment to building more homes in our rural communities
Research from the National Housing Federation shows that 10 affordable homes in a rural area generate £1.4 million for the local economy and support an average of 26 jobs in the area.
However, despite the benefits, constructing affordable homes in rural areas presents significant challenges, often being hampered by complex planning policies, a shortage of investment and stretched resources, which restricts housing supply for rural communities and threatens their long-term sustainability.
We are committed to building homes where people need them, ensuring local connections to family and employment without being priced out of housing in a rural location.
We are planning to develop around 200 homes in rural areas in the next five years and will continue to work with our partners in local authorities to find more opportunities.
- Rebecca Field, Head of Development
Rural poverty linked to high energy prices is becoming more of a challenge due to the growth in energy costs during the last few years. Many rural homes do not have a gas or electricity supply and use different sources of energy such as solid fuel. These homes are also often less well-insulated than homes built in large towns and cities.
At Progress Housing Group we are working on several projects to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of our rural social housing properties and are committed to reducing our carbon emissions and cutting our tenants' energy bills.
One of our most recent environmental projects is the recently completed upgrade of one of our homes in Burneside, Cumbria.
Works carried on to the property included:
- Installation of an air source heat pump
- Removal of two coal fires
- Photovoltaic solar panels
- New windows and doors to enhance thermal performance.
- Hot water cylinder
- New bathroom and kitchen
- Larger radiators
The value of works delivered was £26,000 and was supported significantly by funding from the energy company obligation (ECO4), with the aim of aimed at improving the properties Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating to C or above.
The work has improved the properties (EPC) rating from a Band G to Band C, which will result in a reduction of carbon emissions and energy usage and cost savings for the new tenants.
Another project we are hoping to start shortly is to improve the energy efficiency of 16 mews terrace properties in Burneside, Cumbria. Funding for this project will come from the second wave of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) initiative, and we are looking forward to updating further on this project.