This Rural Housing Week (6-10 July), Hastoe is joining the National Housing Federation (NHF) and other rural housing associations in shining a spotlight on the social and economic benefits affordable housing brings to rural communities.
Hastoe is particularly emphasising the critical importance of Section 106 properties, which are one of the most important ways rural housing associations deliver affordable housing in rural communities.
This comes following a warning from the NHF earlier this week that an estimated 32,000 new affordable homes* and half of all new affordable homes in rural areas** could be lost if proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework are brought into effect. The proposals seek to remove the existing requirement for new medium development sites (between 10 and 49 homes) to deliver affordable housing on site.
To mark the occasion, Hastoe took a small delegation of development partners and colleagues from Colchester City Council to visit eight new Section 106 homes it is purchasing, which are currently under construction in Braiswick, a village in Colchester. The whole scheme of 27 new homes is being developed by Arbora Homes and built to an exceptionally high standard by Marfleet and Bradshaw, alongside employer’s agent Potter Raper.
According to government supply figures, last year Section 106 accounted for more than half (51.3%) of affordable housing delivery in the most rural areas of England***. According to the NHF, removing this requirement could lead to the loss of half of future rural affordable homes over the next decade.
In the last decade, Hastoe has developed 211 homes via Section 106 schemes; if we removed medium-sized sites (schemes of 10-49 homes) from those figures, we would only have delivered 86 Section 106 homes in the same period – a significant 59% reduction.
“That’s why, this Rural Housing Week, we are shining a spotlight on the importance of Section 106 as a way of delivering vitally needed homes in rural areas. The shortage of affordable homes is already much more acute in rural areas than urban ones, and families are often priced out of their own communities. We know the devastating impact this lack of homes can have on those communities, both economically and socially. Section 106 homes such as the ones we are purchasing in Braiswick are therefore often a lifeline for local people.”
Hastoe also specialises in delivering rural affordable homes on rural exception sites – a small site used for affordable housing in perpetuity where sites would not normally be used for housing. Rural exception sites seek to address the needs of the local community by accommodating households who are either current residents or have an existing family or employment connection.
The key to building more affordable homes in rural areas lies in excellent collaboration, whether that is on Section 106 or rural exception site schemes. No matter the delivery method, Hastoe always works in close collaboration with local authorities, councils and carefully chosen development partners, to continue providing homes to the people who need them most, in the areas where they have close community connections.
The eight affordable Section 106 homes Hastoe is purchasing in Braiswick comprise 2 two-bed homes, 2 three-bed homes and 2 four-bed homes for Affordable Rent, plus 2 three-bed homes for shared ownership. The houses are full of character, including concrete sills and brick paved roads. Each property has two parking spaces and is within walking distance to the closest station. The homes are due to be completed in September.
Hastoe added 58 new homes to its housing stock in 2025-26 and started work on a further 36, including eight rural exception site properties in Curdridge, Hampshire and a selection of Section 106 properties across various villages in Devon, amongst others.
*Based on 10,000 affordable homes delivered on medium sites between 2022/3 and 2024/5, projected over the next 10 years
**Based on S106 delivering more than 50% of rural affordable homes last year and vast majority of rural affordable developments having fewer than 50 homes.
*** NHF analysis of MHCLG Live table 1011C