In Oxfordshire’s rural communities, the market for housing has become divorced from local people and their incomes and serves primarily second and holiday homeowners and retirees, who have far more to spend on housing than local workers. Those unable to access homeownership, and with a shrinking stock of social housing in rural areas, have to turn to the private rented sector, where costs are high and tenancies insecure. With more intense competition for these homes, young people and families are priced out of rural communities entirely – forced to move away from friends, families and jobs. Many rural communities struggle to fill vacancies and many communities struggle to maintain services such as local schools, pubs and shops. Lack of affordable homes threatens the social fabric of rural life.
Its not easy for local communities to address this but it is possible, and there is support to help make it happen.
Community First Oxfordshire are running two events for parish councils and other interested groups:
Didcot Civic Centre – Monday 27th November – 7.30-9pm
Exeter Hall Kidlington – Wednesday 6th December – 7.30 -9pm
Delivering the Housing that your Rural Community Needs Tickets, Wed 6 Dec 2023 at 19:00 | Eventbrite
Speakers will include:
- A specialist rural housing association who works closely with Parish Councils to bring forward Rural Exception Sites
- A local community land trust who has taken a community -led approach to delivering affordable homes for local people.
Come along and find out about support available for you to meet your local housing needs There will be lots of opportunity for questions and discussion with experts.
The event is free
Please book early as numbers will be limited.