Issues around availability of suitable housing in rural areas have become more pressing in recent times. Even before COVID-19, demand was outstripping supply and the number of homeless families was increasing rapidly in rural England (CPRE data). The rising cost of energy, centralisation of essential services and the crisis in living costs are contributing to a lack of availability and affordability of appropriate housing for older people.  
 
Our premise is to design low cost, energy-efficient and desirable housing that is adaptive and flexible to meet an individual’s changing needs, provided at sufficient density, we can create capacity for older people to move into appropriate accommodation within their community.
 
The project is designed to engage with all stakeholders to develop options to support people living in rural places to age well and live safely, rewardingly and independently for longer to protect heathy life outcomes like belonging, community and social connections, environmental and living conditions.