Within Leicestershire the Leicestershire Rural Partnership, together with district councils and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), have supported the Leicestershire Rural Housing Enabler - Richard Windley.

Affordable housing includes social rented and intermediate housing, provided to specified eligible households whose needs are not met by the market. Such housing is held in perpetuity so that it remains affordable for future residents. Within Leicestershire affordable housing is principally delivered through exception site policies* and cascade/quota agreements**.

Richard works closely with parish councils, district council planning and housing officers, rural residents, Registered Social Landlords (RSL), the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and landowners to bring forward exception sites* in rural communities.

Richard is currently working on 37 schemes at various stages, those at an advanced stage will bring forward c150 units to deliver against local Housing Need Surveys.

For more information please contact Richard Windley (or telephone 01530 276546)

* An exception site policy seeks to provide a means whereby housing for local people can be provided where normal open market housing would not normally be allowed.

** The cascade, or quota, approach to delivering affordable housing is co-ordinated by the district councils. As part of new housing developments district councils require a percentage of dwellings to be affordable. The quota level differs between each district in Leicestershire.

Partners meet to celebrate the completion of 15 thoughtfully designed new affordable homes in villages Long Whatton and Diseworth, NW Leicestershire.

During Summer 2011 the LRP supported a series of highly successful workshops to help raise awareness of affordable rural housing issues. More information can be access below