Farmers, Landowners and Rural Communities Invited to Explore Practical Solutions for the Future of Rural Housing

Ripon Cathedral will host a major Rural Housing Conference on Friday 12 June 2026, attended by York and North Yorkshire Mayor, David Skaith.

The event brings together farmers, landowners, planners, housing associations, policymakers and community organisations to explore how rural communities can remain living and thriving places for future generations.

The conference, themed:

Understanding Needs • Delivering Vision • Overcoming Barriers

will focus on practical approaches to delivering sensitive, locally supported rural housing across North Yorkshire and beyond.

The event responds to growing concern about the impact of housing shortages on rural communities, including the loss of younger families, pressures on local services, and the increasing difficulty of retaining people within villages and market towns – as evidenced by the findings of the North Yorkshire Rural Commission, established by North Yorkshire County Council in 2019 and whose final report was published in 2021.

The conference, organised by the Ripon Cathedral Rural Forum, is particularly encouraging attendance by farmers, smaller landowners and rural estates who may be interested in understanding more about how small-scale housing schemes can support community sustainability.

The Dean of Ripon, The Very Rev John Dobson DL, said: “Rural housing is not simply about building homes. It is about sustaining communities, supporting younger generations, and helping villages remain vibrant places to live and work. This conference is about bringing people together to explore practical solutions rooted in partnership and shared understanding.”

The conference will include keynote presentations, practical case studies and interactive discussion sessions involving organisations from across the rural housing sector, including:

• Homes England
• North Yorkshire Council
• Housing associations
• Landowners and rural estates
• Community-led housing groups
• Rural housing enablers
• Planning and development specialists

Discussion themes will include:

• Unlocking land for rural housing
• Rural exception sites
• Community-led housing
• Delivering attractive and locally supported developments
• Planning and viability challenges
• Partnership working between communities and landowners

Organisers stress that the event is not about large-scale development, but about exploring how smaller, carefully designed schemes can help support thriving rural communities.

A limited number of places remain available. if you are interested in attending – perhaps you are a farmer, landowners or small builder – then please follow the link below by May 29.

Event Details

📍 Ripon Cathedral
📅 Friday 12 June 2026
🕤 9.30am – 3.00pm

Please RSVP here by 29 May