In addition to our Strategic Rural Housing Scheme (SRHS), we also operate an Affordable Rural Housing scheme.
Properties within our ARH have some form of subsidy on them, such as having been bequeathed to us, built on donated land, or converted from barns where we have received a grant for some of the conversion costs. Because of this we are able to provide these homes at an ‘affordable rent’ level (defined as no more than 80% of the local market rent).
Properties within our Affordable Rural Housing portfolio are available to rent to anyone currently working in, or retired from, an agricultural or a land based industry, or anyone working in a rural and land based occupation. This eligibility criteria differs from our SRHS where we can only accommodate farmers whose main income comes from farming an agricultural holding which they have to leave, and therefore will lose their home.
Our current properties are situated in three counties; Cornwall, Worcestershire and Ceredigion, West Wales.
Trevorva Barns, Cornwall
This was our first affordable rural housing project specifically for rural people and demonstrated an imaginative solution to a well-documented problem.
In 2005 we developed 5 homes from a redundant Cornwall Council stone barn which are now rented out to people with a connection to an agricultural occupation. Opened by HRH the Prince of Wales in 2006, these barn conversions range from a single storey one bedroom home to a 3 bedroom two storey family home. Rents vary depending on the size of the house. We have had a turnover of occupants as their circumstances have changed and one past tenant described their home as “giving them a breathing space, while they sorted out their future prospects”. It is a privilege for us to be able to help young farm workers, alongside retired farmers and others working in agricultural related jobs, but whose income is insufficient to enable them to rent on the open market.
Often the barrier to progression within the industry is lack of appropriate housing for those wishing to leave a farm; by providing this, we hope that opportunities arise for those wishing to enter agriculture.
This scheme is, we believe, unique. Eligibility for most affordable housing is based on location, radiating outwards from the parish concerned. This is the first where the applicant’s occupation is paramount: eligibility is confined to those working within, or retiring from, a rural business. For those who have always lived in the country, particularly on farms, finding suitable homes is difficult. The scheme is secured by the planning obligation and all will remain in the rented sector, thus ensuring they remain affordable in years to come.
Addington acknowledges the support received from the EU’s ‘Objective One’ Funding in 2006 which enabled the conversion of these barns to be carried out.
Ruthvoes Live/Work
Also in Cornwall, we have 4 work/live units was officially opened by HRH the Earl of Wessex in 2013.
This beautiful development situated in the hamlet of Ruthvoes, near St Columb, offers three 3 bedroom properties and one 2 bedroom property each with its own individual workshop in a courtyard development. On unveiling the plaque officially opening the development, His Royal Highness commented that he hoped this model of work/live units could be repeated in other rural locations.
The site, previously a redundant Council farm, offers opportunities to people from a rural industry to start their own business, or even provide homes for people thinking of leaving farming, but wishing to continue working as self-employed in the rural sector. One of the houses in the development includes a ground floor bedroom, wet room and wider door openings for wheelchair access, if required.
The project, carried out by Cornish construction company Ron Bullock Ltd, widens the Addington Fund’s scope, following their first affordable housing development at Trevorva, near Probus.
Thanks to funding from the EU this development boasts energy efficient Solar PV Panels along with Ground Source Heat Pumps to provide heating in the workshops and houses.
Worcestershire
In 2014 two 3 bedroom semi-detached homes were built for us on land donated by the late John Collins, founder of Collins Calfmate. John was a farmer himself, and realised the difficulty that farming and rural workers had in finding affordable homes to rent.
John’s generosity has meant that we can offer housing solutions to people with a connection to agriculture so they can live in a location where they have work but would otherwise be out of their financial range.
We also acknowledge the generosity of the builders, Kendrick Homes who built these houses at cost, thus contributing to the fact that we could offer rural homes to rural workers at an affordable rent.
Ceredigion, West Wales
In 2015 we were humbled to learn that we had been bequeathed our first property – a detached 3 bedroom house in a rural location in West Wales. This will at the first instance be made available to persons working locally within agriculture.
If, having read this page, you think you have a housing development proposal you would like to discuss with us, please contact our Project Manager, Mike Williams on 01926 620135 or email mikewilliams@addingtonfund.org.uk
