The Rural Housing Action Guide for Wales (Welsh Government, December 2025) is a practical guidance document aimed at housing professionals, community groups and other stakeholders working to deliver affordable housing in rural Wales. It was published as part of Welsh Government’s housing supply guidance and is intended to support local authorities, social landlords, developers, planners and community partners to navigate the specific challenges of rural housing delivery.
What the guide includes
The guide provides step-by-step, practical tools and insights on key elements of rural affordable housing delivery:
- Policy and planning context: an overview of relevant Welsh policy, planning frameworks and regulatory considerations that influence rural housing.
- Identifying housing needs: how to assess local housing requirements, including tailored needs assessments for rural communities.
- Site identification and acquisition: approaches to finding and securing suitable land in rural areas.
- Funding and economics: financial planning, grant programmes and economic considerations for affordable housing schemes.
- Design, construction and quality: guidance on design standards, construction methods and quality requirements that reflect rural contexts.
- Stakeholder engagement and collaboration: tools for partnering effectively with local communities, housing enablers, landowners, statutory bodies and others.
- Case studies: examples of successful rural housing projects from across Wales, highlighting different delivery models and practical lessons.
The guide also includes checklists and reference material to help users apply its recommendations during project development and delivery.
Who is it for?
The document is designed to be used by:
- Housing professionals and planners working in rural areas
- Community groups and rural housing enablers leading or supporting local housing projects
- Local authorities and registered social landlords seeking clarity on rural housing delivery
- Partners involved in collaborative housing models, including community-led housing and innovative affordable housing approaches.
Read or download the Rural Housing Action Guide for Wales: Rural Housing Action Guide for Wales
