Rural

About our Rural Strategy

The term 'rural' applies to settlements of less than 4,500 people. 35% of NI population live in rural areas. Rural living has several specific issues. These include:

  • Isolation

  • "Hidden" need - where individuals with the same needs don't get together to make themselves heard

  • A strong attachment to the area people were brought up in

  • Difficulty in providing a good standard of service on a small scale

  • Lower "institutional capacity" - for example, smaller schools and hospitals

The main rural housing problems include:

  • Affordability

  • The impact of PPS14 - legislation which makes it difficult to get planning permission for new homes in rural areas

  • Increasing waiting lists for housing

  • Not enough new social housing

  • Higher than average levels of unfit housing

The ‘Rural Homes and People’ policy paper is currently being prepared for submission to the Board. We believe that our rural housing policy should contribute to the following overarching vision:

‘Housing Services working in partnership to sustain vibrant communities and provide economic, social and environmental benefits in rural areas’

Principles

We also feel that a series of key principles should guide the development of rural housing policy as follows:

  • Rural housing policy should contribute towards more general rural development objectives, within a framework of sustainable development

  • A specifically tailored approach to rural issues is needed, rather than just a revised urban approach

  • Partnership with others is critical for success

  • Tailoring to local circumstances is necessary because of the diverse nature of communities across rural Northern Ireland

  • Working with rural communities is essential for effective rural development

  • Affordability and accessibility must be at the core of any potential housing solutions

  • Investment and resources must be directed to wherever they are most needed, and to those who need them most

  • Rural housing policy should be mindful of equal opportunity ( Section 75) legislation, with the emphasis on promotion of equality of opportunity in rural areas

  • We should make the most of any opportunity to test new approaches, and to learn from policy and best practice elsewhere