Woman had five-year wait for affordable rural home

A woman has said more affordable housing is needed in rural areas after spending five years searching for a home she could afford in the village where grew up.

Abbie Barton, a dinner lady from Brockham in Surrey, was able to stay close to her family after moving into a property built by local charity The Poland Trust to provide affordable homes for local people.

For about five years prior to this, Barton said she "couldn't find anywhere to live and couldn't afford anywhere to live", adding that she now paid about half the rent she would expect to pay on the open market.

The government said it was simplifying the planning process to deliver more homes and infrastructure.

Barton said: "The Poland Trust built these houses for Brockham people who are part of the community to be able to stay and afford this village.

"I was really lucky and it's changed my life."

She said many others faced similar difficulties.

"There definitely isn't enough affordable housing," she said.

"I know a lot of people who can't afford to move into areas like this."

The Poland Trust developed the scheme in partnership with Mole Valley council and rural charity Acre.

The National Housing Federation (NHF) said one in 10 homes in rural areas is classed as affordable, and waiting lists had risen by 20% over the past three years as demand has grown.

The federation warned the situation could worsen under government proposals affecting some Section 106 agreements - planning deals that require developers to provide affordable housing as part of new developments.

NHF head of policy Will Jeffwitz said there was a "real risk" of having fewer affordable homes built in rural areas.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We're investing £39bn to provide the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation.

"No decisions have been taken on the future of S106 agreements but we are committed to making the process simpler and more transparent, so we can get on and build the homes and infrastructure this country desperately needs."

The government said S106 agreements would remain "an essential mechanism", but steps were being taken to improve the system.

Patrick Mahon, head of policy and public affairs at Acre, said affordable housing projects worked best when councils, housing associations, parish councils and local communities worked together.

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