Rural housing

We work closely with parish councils, local residents, registered housing providers, homebuilders, our Spatial Planning team, and many other groups, to understand rural housing needs and housing need within rural areas across Cheshire East and give access to affordable housing. 

Housing needs surveys

To support and inform our work, we research the housing needs within rural areas. A number of local housing needs surveys have been completed. The resulting reports can be downloaded below along with the questionnaires that were circulated in each area.

• Alderley Edge Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 2.25MB)
• Alpraham Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 768KB)
• Arclid Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 736KB)
• Audlem Housing Needs Survey Report 2013 (PDF, 1.9MB)
• Brereton Housing Needs Survey 2013 (PDF, 796KB)
• Bosley Housing Needs Survey Report 2020 (PDF, 812KB)
• Betchton Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 972KB)
• Buerton Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 975KB)
• Bulkeley and Ridley Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 705KB)
• Bunbury Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 785KB)
• Calveley Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 752KB)
• Church Lawton Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 910KB)
• Cranage Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 882KB)
• Dodcott-Cum-Wilkesley Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 985KB)
• Doddington and District Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 351KB) which was based on responses to the  Doddington and District questionnaire (PDF, 171KB)
• Rural Housing Needs Survey 2015 Gawsworth Addendum August 2018 (PDF, 1MB)
• Hankelow Housing Needs Survey (PDF, 772KB)
• Hatherton and Walgherton Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 319KB) which was based on responses to the  Hatherton and Walgherton questionnaire (PDF, 544KB)
• Hough and Chorlton Parish Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 254KB) which was based on responses to the Hough and Chorlton Housing Needs Survey Questionnaire (PDF, 93KB)
• Little Bollington Rural Housing Needs Survey February 2020 (PDF, 4.2MB)
• North Rode Housing Needs Survey Report 2013 (PDF, 719KB)
• Over Alderley Housing Needs Survey Report 2016 (PDF, 921KB)
• Rainow Rural Housing Needs Survey 2019 (PDF, 658KB)
• Smallwood Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 666KB)
• Wardle Housing Needs Survey Report (PDF, 780KB)
• Wincle Housing Needs Survey Report 2013 (PDF, 856KB)
• Wrenbury Rural Housing Needs Survey 2019 (PDF, 1.4MB)
• Wybunbury Housing Needs Survey Report 2022 (PDF, 2.2MB)

Rural housing enabling guide

Cheshire East Council recognise that there are particular challenges in providing affordable housing for the people living in or with connections to its many rural areas.

The Rural Housing enabling guide (PDF, 5.52MB) has been produced to assist all those involved in the development of these much needed homes. (If you need this document in an alternative format contact housing).

Contact Rural Housing

We are always on the lookout for suitable sites for rural affordable housing. If you know of any such sites please get in touch. 

We would be very happy to come and talk to any local community group about the issues relating to affordable housing in your rural area.

Document accessibility

Page last reviewed: 22 January 2024