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| 'Lost generation' in rural Wales | 'Lost generation' in rural Wales |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A report on rural housing in Wales warns parts of the countryside "will lose the next generation of young people" without big changes in policy. | A report on rural housing in Wales warns parts of the countryside "will lose the next generation of young people" without big changes in policy. |
| The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found rural homeless levels have risen more sharply than urban areas, yet there are 18,000 vacant homes in rural areas. | The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found rural homeless levels have risen more sharply than urban areas, yet there are 18,000 vacant homes in rural areas. |
| The assembly government said it is to create a network of specialists who can help provide more affordable homes. | The assembly government said it is to create a network of specialists who can help provide more affordable homes. |
| And grants will be given for first time buyers to make homes energy efficient. | And grants will be given for first time buyers to make homes energy efficient. |
| An eight-month study by the charity concluded there is an increasing unmet housing need in rural Wales with the problems of affordability becoming more acute. | An eight-month study by the charity concluded there is an increasing unmet housing need in rural Wales with the problems of affordability becoming more acute. |
| The report found social housing supply was more limited than in urban areas and rural homelessness levels had increased sharply. | The report found social housing supply was more limited than in urban areas and rural homelessness levels had increased sharply. |
| REPORT MAIN FINDINGS Councils should use a significant proportion of second-home council tax to respond to housing needsA network of at least 12 "rural housing enablers" should be establishedThe assembly government should develop and promote good practice in bringing vacant properties back in to useA database of public land with potential for development should be createdA single definition of housing need and a single methodology for calculating them needs to be developed by ministers Joseph Rowntree Foundation Commission on Rural Housing in Wales | REPORT MAIN FINDINGS Councils should use a significant proportion of second-home council tax to respond to housing needsA network of at least 12 "rural housing enablers" should be establishedThe assembly government should develop and promote good practice in bringing vacant properties back in to useA database of public land with potential for development should be createdA single definition of housing need and a single methodology for calculating them needs to be developed by ministers Joseph Rowntree Foundation Commission on Rural Housing in Wales |
| It found the average house price was now more than five times the average income in all rural local authority areas. | It found the average house price was now more than five times the average income in all rural local authority areas. |
| The charity said the assembly government's plans to build 6,500 affordable homes across Wales by 2011 were "ambitious" but around three times more properties were needed for rural Wales alone. | The charity said the assembly government's plans to build 6,500 affordable homes across Wales by 2011 were "ambitious" but around three times more properties were needed for rural Wales alone. |
| It said the assembly government should develop and promote good practice guides for councils on how to bring vacant properties back into use. | It said the assembly government should develop and promote good practice guides for councils on how to bring vacant properties back into use. |
| The report recommends a "significant proportion" of second-home council tax should be used by rural local authorities to respond to housing needs in their areas. | The report recommends a "significant proportion" of second-home council tax should be used by rural local authorities to respond to housing needs in their areas. |
| Derec Llwyd Morgan, the commission chair said: "Unless you have houses, you won't have workers staying in rural Wales. | Derec Llwyd Morgan, the commission chair said: "Unless you have houses, you won't have workers staying in rural Wales. |
| "One of the problems we find is that young people cannot afford to stay there, so they migrate to the towns and cities, leaving rurality to the older people or non-working people." | "One of the problems we find is that young people cannot afford to stay there, so they migrate to the towns and cities, leaving rurality to the older people or non-working people." |
| Shadow Housing Minister and North Wales AM Mark Isherwood said the report made "worrying reading". | Shadow Housing Minister and North Wales AM Mark Isherwood said the report made "worrying reading". |
| The report calls for a database of public land suitable for development | The report calls for a database of public land suitable for development |
| In response to the report, the Welsh Assembly Government announced a range of new measures to address the problems in its Rural Housing Development Scheme. | In response to the report, the Welsh Assembly Government announced a range of new measures to address the problems in its Rural Housing Development Scheme. |
| It said it will provide funding to expand a pilot of 'rural enablers' - specialists who work in communities to identify the need for new homes and land that could be made available for development. | It said it will provide funding to expand a pilot of 'rural enablers' - specialists who work in communities to identify the need for new homes and land that could be made available for development. |
| Grants of up to £5,000 will also be given to some first-time buyers to make their homes more energy efficient in areas where the difference between average incomes and mortgage costs are highest. | Grants of up to £5,000 will also be given to some first-time buyers to make their homes more energy efficient in areas where the difference between average incomes and mortgage costs are highest. |
| And it is seeking the power for local councils to suspend the right to buy in areas of housing pressure. | And it is seeking the power for local councils to suspend the right to buy in areas of housing pressure. |
| Jocelyn Davies, deputy minister for housing, said: "I share the commission's concerns about the social and cultural sustainability of some of our rural communities." | Jocelyn Davies, deputy minister for housing, said: "I share the commission's concerns about the social and cultural sustainability of some of our rural communities." |
| She also outlined the assembly government's other commitments to increase the availability of affordable housing in Wales. | She also outlined the assembly government's other commitments to increase the availability of affordable housing in Wales. |
| She said: "We have increased he grant available to build social housing for rent by £30m and we will look at Government landholdings, including former WDA and NHS Wales land, to see if they are suitable for disposal to meet the need for affordable housing." | She said: "We have increased he grant available to build social housing for rent by £30m and we will look at Government landholdings, including former WDA and NHS Wales land, to see if they are suitable for disposal to meet the need for affordable housing." |