Rural Housing Week 2019
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This week is Rural Housing Week, where we are shining a spotlight on successful rural housing developments and how they have helped benefit the community in areas which are in need.
This week is Rural Housing Week, where we are shining a spotlight on successful rural housing developments and how they have helped benefit the community in areas which are in need. Rural Housing week is organised each year by the National Housing Federation, the Rural Housing Alliance and Rural Services Network, and is designed to showcase the importance of housing and its role in the survival of rural communities and services.
The theme of Rural Housing Week 2019 is Building for Rural Communities, a celebration of how housing associations have built high quality, affordable homes in rural areas, with high quality developments delivered through successful community engagement and partnerships.
The Wrekin Housing Trust has rural properties across Shropshire and Staffordshire, and here are just a couple of case studies:
In High Ercall, Shropshire, you will find Ridgway, a Wrekin Retirement Living development of 60 bungalows. The scheme, which has previously won a national award for ‘The Best UK Rural Retirement Housing Scheme’, provides a lifeline for it residents, both through the affordable housing and the social hub which brings together residents and the local community to socialise and make new friends. Resident and tenants panel member Clive Dann says that; “I’ve been at Ridgeway for 10 years and I love it. Me and my wife are country folk, so we love the peaceful and quiet setting of Ridgeway. There are lots of groups and events which residents and members of the local community can get involved in such as coffee and bap mornings, fish and chip suppers and stitching groups, and we often run funded days out. I believe Ridgeway is one of the best retirement living places around, and the service we are provided with is excellent.”
In 2018, the Trust completed a development of homes in Eccleshall. Bernadette Mingaye, who is partially sighted and requires the help of a guide dog, had previously struggled to find a home to accommodate her before being provided with a home by the Trust. She moved into the home last October, and recently said she is delighted with her home; “I couldn’t be happier with the area. I’ve been here nine months now, and the family feel is brilliant, my kids have plenty of other children to play with. It’s a really pretty area – there’s lots to do in Eccleshall, but it’s still quiet with that village feel. There’s a library, shops and community groups, and we’re close to the school which is great. Everyone is very friendly – it’s just a very strong community.”
This week we will be sharing stories from rural tenants across our social media, showing how rural housing creates stronger communities, and how affordable rural housing is important to the Wrekin Housing Trust and the communities we serve.
2nd July 2019