Holiday cottage firm to raise £33,000 for countryside social housing

Blamed for pricing locals out of the countryside, they are the last people that many in the sector would expect to boost affordable housebuilding. But now one Norfolk holiday cottage firm is trying to offset the problems caused by holiday homes.

Norfolk Country Cottages, which manages 320 holiday homes on behalf of private landlords, is to raise £33,000 for a rural housing charity.

The firm has pledged to donate £1 from every booking to the Rural Housing Trust. It is also seeking donations from holidaymakers and the homeowners it works for.

The trust will use the money to employ a housing officer in Norfolk who helps housing associations develop in rural areas.

James Ellis, marketing manager for Norfolk Country Cottages, said: "There's a big problem with second homes in Norfolk. We're trying to offset this problem and put something back into the area. It's been well received by our homeowners as a lot of them are from Norfolk themselves and feel they can help."

Janet Hart, spokeswoman for the Rural Housing Trust, said the new housing officer would help housing associations and councils to work together on local developments.

There’s a big problem with second homes in Norfolk. We’re trying to offset this and put something back into the area

James Ellis, Norfolk Country Cottages

"They would go into villages and work with the parish council to carry out housing needs surveys. They would look at prospective sites and talk to the parish council about how it could be involved and what it needs to do."

Meanwhile, city dwellers escaping the rat race are buying up farms.

A survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has found that almost half the people buying farms are not farmers.

Hotspots included south-east England, where 56% of farm buyers were not farmers.

Buyers often move into the farmhouse and offer the surrounding land to a neighbouring farmer, according to the survey.