Evaluation of the Defra-funded Rural Housing Enabler Programme
In 2025 ACRE commissioned a comprehensive evaluation of the programme, jointly produced by the Countryside Community Research Institute and EAP Research Consultancy. The purpose of the evaluation was to examine the need for RHEs in tackling the affordable housing crisis in the UK, the role RHEs play in enabling homes to be built, and the impact the programme has on rural communities.
The evaluation identified many key outcomes, including:
- RHEs are playing a vital role in building local trust, evidencing need, and raising awareness of rural affordable housing development processes
- As of early 2025, RHEs had built up a pipeline of 227 prospective rural housing schemes (over 2,100 potential homes)
- Local partners are clear that without RHE input, work on rural affordable housing would significantly reduce due to resource constraints and a focus on urban sites – disadvantaging rural communities.
- A social return on investment model indicates that for every £1 spent over 3 years there is an estimated £3.30 generated in social outcome benefits
