Rural Housing Week 2025
Rural Housing Week (7-11 July 2025) highlights the crucial importance of providing affordable homes in our rural communities and shines a light on the unique housing challenges that exist in these areas for local people - like Marcus.
Our customer Marcus, who had been on a waiting list for seven years and faced homelessness and personal struggles, finally had a place to call home in one our beautiful new homes in Merton last year.
“When I got here and they opened the door I thought Wow! When I looked around it was so beautiful! I felt it was mine before I even got here. So, I’m really happy.
“I’ve got family in Petrockstowe and I’m a Bideford boy. I grew up on a farm and love the countryside. They’re a really friendly community here and made me feel quite welcome.
If I go away now, I’m always excited to get home and shut the door. Since I’ve been here my depression is getting better. I’ve met a lot of people. The best move I’ve had for years.
“This home is wonderful, I honestly think Westward is the best landlord out there.”
We want to create more stories like Marcus’s.
Our new development site in Upton, Cornwall - The Pumpfield, will provide much needed affordable homes for people in this rural location.
Working with our partners for the fourth time, Legacy Properties, we will be building 13 beautiful new affordable homes:
- Nine affordable rent:
- X2 one bed adaptable and accessible bungalows
- X2 two bed house
- X2 three bed house
- X1 four bed houses
- X2 one bed flats
- Four shared ownership:
- X2 two bed house
- X2 three bed houses
They will set a high energy efficiency standard of A rating EPC with solar PV and air source heat pumps helping make them better for customers to run.
We have also begun works on a new development in Winkleigh, Great Well Park. Working with Lovell, we are building 21 new affordable homes for local people to move into in Spring 2026:
- 16 affordable rent:
- X4 one bed flats
- X6 two bed flats
- X4 two bed houses
- X2 three bed houses
- Five shared ownership:
- X2 two bed houses
- X3 three bed houses
The homes will have a B rating EPC and also have solar PV and air source heat pumps to ensure better thermal comfort in homes for our customers.
We will remain committed to working with local partners, local authorities and communities to continue to deliver more affordable homes in rural locations across Devon and Cornwall for local people so that they are able to thrive.