Incentivising landowners torelease sites for affordable

housing“One day son,

none of this will be houses”

Why affordable housing is important

“…many rural people have been forced to leave areas where they were brought up and have family ties, or where they work because they simply cannot afford the housing and this can lead to the erosion of communities”

Hampshire Alliance for Rural Affordable Housing

Not all landowners are the same

Not all landowners are the same

Not all landowners are the same

Not all landowners are the same

There are differences in attitudes and experience

Based on interviews with 26 farmers and estates (April - May 2011)

What is the potential?

Positive attitude

…but…“[it is] not something that is high priority so

we need a catalyst ”

“never approached councils about market or affordable housing due to difficulties envisaged ”

…but…too little income and a hassle

Many require a deal to generate them a significant lump sum

This sum is a minimum of £100 – 150,000, which equates to around 8-12 plots

So what’s the deal?

So what do we now know?

Affordable housing is viewed as

‘not core business’ or an unprofitable distraction

Landowners should be approached as commercial businessmen – not social entrepreneurs willing to provide land for the greater good

So what do we now know?

There is a generally negative view of working with local authorities

Make the process straightforward for landowners would encourage more to release sites for housing

NASA CREATIVITY TESTWhat proportion registered genius level creativity?

5-year-olds 98%10-year-olds 30%15-year-olds 12%Adults 2%

“For challenges – need to think creatively!”George Land

Conclusions

Different approaches to suit different landowners

Make the process straightforward

Provide better information, to encourage engagement

Affordable housing in the countryside

Dr Jason BeedellHead of Research

01733 866562jason.beedell@smithsgore

.co.uk