Rural Housing

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is concerned about the impact of the lack of affordable housing on the health of rural communities, so we have started a new initiative in partnership with the Welsh Government.

The rural Vale has lost 76% of its council houses. Rural housing problems are often unrecognised because country people are used to finding their own solutions, so need is often hidden or shifted outside the area.

Country people working locally often have to move away to find a family home. As they have to commute back to their home to work, the next generation of their children grows up away from their roots and heritage.

Communities are affected as they no longer retain younger people and young families. Schools may be threatened with closure, services may be withdrawn, businesses may close, employers may have difficulty finding reliable long term workers.

There are obstacles to developing new housing in the rural Vale: lack of understanding, funding, land availability and land suitability. But, people of good will, working together can produce exciting and long term answers.

Communities should benefit from new house building. The key is building just enough new homes to meet local need and not concreting over the rural Vale.

The council has a Rural Housing Enabler who works in partnership with rural Community Councils and residents to raise awareness of housing issues and developments.

2019 - 2026 Vale of Glamorgan Rural Housing Enabler Update

Since the RHE project began in the Vale in 2010 it has successfully contributed to the delivery of several rural affordable housing schemes for local people.

Housing Development

We have been working closely with our registered Social landlords to deliver new affordable housing across the rural Vale. These homes are provided for local people on the Homes4U or Aspire2Own waiting lists and are managed by our registered social landlords.

Screenshot 2026-04-16 090937

New Homes Completions

In July 2019, Newydd Housing Association welcomed new households into their development of homes in Twyn yr Odyn. There were 6 one bedroom apartments and 9 two bedroom houses made available and the new residents were very happy to get the keys and begin creating their new family homes.

In April 2022, Newydd Housing Association provided a total of 13 new affordable homes for local people at its site in Cwrt Canna, Llangan. The rural development which was constructed using the Beattie Passive Model were a welcome addition to the area. The site has been built with sutainability and longevity in mind and is in touch with the rural landscape. Residents were over the moon to be allocated these forever homes and keep those vital connections in the Rural Vale.

In February 2026, Wales and West Housing Association completed their latest rural housing development. Clos y Stabl in Wick has provided 17 brand new affordable homes, consisting of 6 three bedroom houses, 4 two bedroom houses, 4 one bedroom flats and 3 one bedroom bunglalows for local people to rent.

Looking forward to the end of 2026, we are awaiting the delivery of new sites at Moat Farm in Llysworney and Maple Walk in Ystradowen. Moat Farm in Llysworney will deliver 4 flats and 3 houses for social rent through Newydd. Maple Walk in Ystradowen will deliver 8 flats and 6 houses for social rent. There will also be 5 two bed houses available for Low Cost Home Ownership.

When affordable housing developments are approved by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, we aim to ensure that at least one property is fully adapted to the needs of someone on our Accessible Homes register.

Potential Rural Developments

I have had several meetings about land opportunities which could provide small but strategically important sites for affordable homes for people in the rural areas of the Vale. However in this type of job you have to keep reminding yourself that only a small percentage of proposed schemes will actually get built.

We would be interested to hear from anyone who would like us to do something similar in their community.

Local Housing Needs Surveys

I have recently had the opportunity to start looking at various different areas where we would like to establish a more accurate housing need. Throughout 2026, I will be working with the Local Community Councils to complete Local Housing Need Surveys. The surveys will fall into two sections. A survey that will be sent out to current residents of the area and a more general survey for the website for those who would benefit from moving to these areas. We will also be disussing housing need with businesses and schools to establish how a lack of social housing in rural areas affects them.

So far, a Local Housing Needs Survey was completed for Peterston Super Ely. This was a pilot survey and we have made adjustments for further surveys to ensure we can gather as much information as possible, from as wide a demographic.

To read more about our Local Housing Needs Surveys, please follow the link.

Local Housing Needs Surveys