"Grow by building new homes in partnership with rural communities"
Growing the supply of affordable homes for rural communities remained a key priority this year, working hand in hand with the communities themselves and our partners.
The need is as acute as ever, with supply constraints and local pressures continuing to make it hard for local people to find decent, affordable homes in the villages they call home.
Over the course of the year we delivered 27 new affordable homes. Each was completed with a clear focus on quality, sustainability and long-term suitability, so that new developments add not just capacity but well-designed, comfortable homes that people are proud to live in.
This delivery was made possible by significant external investment, including £3.9 million of grant funding from Homes England, alongside additional support from some local authority partners where this was needed to make schemes viable. This funding is essential to providing homes at social rent levels, keeping them within reach of local people who might otherwise be priced out.
We also continued to make progress on schemes originated through earlier merger activity, including developments in Hampshire at Longstock and Copythorne, and we were proud to secure a design award for our development at Avening in Gloucestershire.
This year again highlighted the financial realities of rural development. While overall viability remained reasonable, it continues to be shaped by wider cost pressures on every viability metric we measure schemes against. This underlines the need for careful appraisal and management, so that development stays sustainable while still meeting housing need.
Despite these challenges, we maintained a strong pipeline, with 113 homes in our current development programme. This shows our continued commitment to growth and our determination to keep bringing forward new homes, so that we remain well placed to respond to demand over the medium term.
Taken together, the work under this ambition reflects a measured and resilient approach to development.
By continuing to deliver new homes, secure funding, manage viability pressures and maintain a healthy pipeline, we have sustained our contribution to meeting rural housing need, with growth remaining central to our wider objectives.
Delivering new homes in small rural communities is never straightforward, but it is deeply worthwhile. This year we completed 27 high-quality affordable homes and kept a strong pipeline moving, working closely with communities and partners to bring much-needed housing to the villages that need it most.
During 2025/26, we proudly delivered 27 new affordable homes across several rural communities. In Kent, we completed eight homes in Chiddingstone Chequers and ten in West Kingsdown. In Essex, four new affordable homes were delivered in Thaxted, while in Hampshire we completed five homes in Longstock.
Looking forward into 2026/27 and beyond, our active development pipeline continues to grow, with new affordable homes progressing across a number of key rural villages. In Kent, developments are underway in Halstead, Egerton, Chiddingstone Causeway, and at planning stage in Penshurst and Mersham. Essex will see completions in Manuden, while in Hampshire we have Copythorne on site and feasibilities for new homes progressing in Smannell, Herriard and South Warnborough. In Surrey, new affordable homes are planned in Peaslake.
Through continued partnership working, we remain dedicated to delivering high-quality homes, responding directly to the needs and aspirations of rural communities.
…with over 100 homes in the development pipeline.
>>
27 new affordable homes completed, with 113 in the pipeline.
£3.9 million grant funding drawn from Homes England to support social rents.
Financial viability remains reasonable, although additional grant funding from local authority partners has been necessary to achieve this on some more complex sites.
Continued progress on schemes originated through earlier merger activity, including developments in Hampshire at Longstock and Copythorne.
A design award secured for our development at Avening in Gloucestershire.
Chiddingstone, Kent
>> Delivering new rural homes at scale depends on strong, sustained partnerships with communities, funders and stakeholders.
>> Financial pressures reinforce the importance of robust scheme appraisal and careful management to ensure long-term viability.
>> Maintaining a strong and flexible pipeline is essential to keeping development moving and responding to housing need over the medium term.
