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Rural home planning changes urged Home prices 'hitting rural lives'
(about 2 hours later)
Major changes to affordable housing policies are needed to bring prosperity to rural communities, an independent review has concluded. Villages will become "exclusive enclaves of the elderly and wealthy" unless more affordable housing is built, an independent review has said.
Living Working Countryside, a report by MP Matthew Taylor commissioned by the government, found expensive homes and low wages threaten rural communities. Planning restrictions should be eased to encourage rural businesses, and bland housing estates discouraged, the government-commissioned report found.
It recommends more affordable homes, flexible planning to stimulate local firms and create rural workplaces. Expensive homes and low wages threatened rural communities, author Lib Dem MP Matthew Taylor said.
Otherwise, it said, rural areas would only be for the "wealthy" and retired. Young families were said to being priced out of their own communities.
The review found house prices have been driven up by an influx of people moving from cities, which has priced young families out of the communities in which they work. The review - Living Working Countryside - found house prices have been driven up by an influx of people moving from cities.
It found the UK's rural population had grown by 800,000 people in the last decade . This marked an 7% increase in the number of people in the countryside - twice the rate of growth in urban areas.It found the UK's rural population had grown by 800,000 people in the last decade . This marked an 7% increase in the number of people in the countryside - twice the rate of growth in urban areas.
The disparity between low average incomes and high house prices in rural areas was also addressed in the review.The disparity between low average incomes and high house prices in rural areas was also addressed in the review.
The average local wage of people living in rural areas is £20,895, some £4,655 lower than the average in urban parts of the UK.The average local wage of people living in rural areas is £20,895, some £4,655 lower than the average in urban parts of the UK.
This was coupled with the fact that the average house price was £8,000 more in rural areas than in conurbations.This was coupled with the fact that the average house price was £8,000 more in rural areas than in conurbations.
It is so refreshing to read a report which puts long term planning, local distinctiveness, and community consent at the heart of its recommendations Tom OliverCPRE Experiences of rural lifeIt is so refreshing to read a report which puts long term planning, local distinctiveness, and community consent at the heart of its recommendations Tom OliverCPRE Experiences of rural life
The report found that this meant young people struggled to purchase homes in the countryside.The report found that this meant young people struggled to purchase homes in the countryside.
In rural parts of the UK some 17% of purchases were made by first-time buyers, compared with 33% in urban parts of the country.In rural parts of the UK some 17% of purchases were made by first-time buyers, compared with 33% in urban parts of the country.
In order to stimulate employment and local economies in the countryside, the review recommended planning rules and practices which encourage small rural businesses to move into urban centres once they start to grow.In order to stimulate employment and local economies in the countryside, the review recommended planning rules and practices which encourage small rural businesses to move into urban centres once they start to grow.
It said home-based working practices and the creation of small businesses should be encouraged in the countryside through the adoption of flexible planning policies - particularly where work-based extensions to homes are concerned.It said home-based working practices and the creation of small businesses should be encouraged in the countryside through the adoption of flexible planning policies - particularly where work-based extensions to homes are concerned.
And it concluded that housing associations should end bans on people setting up a home-based business in social and affordable homes.And it concluded that housing associations should end bans on people setting up a home-based business in social and affordable homes.
Lib Dem MP Mr Taylor, whose report was commissioned by the prime minister, said many people find life in the countryside "challenging", adding that "urgent action is vital to stop villages dying and our market towns being wrecked by unsympathetic development". Mr Taylor, whose report was commissioned by the prime minister, said many people find life in the countryside "challenging", adding that "urgent action is vital to stop villages dying and our market towns being wrecked by unsympathetic development".
He added: "If we fail to build the affordable homes to enable the people who work in the countryside to live there we risk turning our villages into gated communities of wealthy commuters and the retired."He added: "If we fail to build the affordable homes to enable the people who work in the countryside to live there we risk turning our villages into gated communities of wealthy commuters and the retired."
Community 'lifeblood'Community 'lifeblood'
Mr Taylor said, in many cases, "just a handful of well designed homes, kept affordable in perpetuity for local people, will make all the difference to the sustainability of a village and its services".Mr Taylor said, in many cases, "just a handful of well designed homes, kept affordable in perpetuity for local people, will make all the difference to the sustainability of a village and its services".
The problems are worse in the most rural areasThe problems are worse in the most rural areas
The Rural Services Network, a membership organisation devoted to improving services in rural communities in England, said it agreed with the "main thrust" of the report, particularly on the issue of helping first-time buyers as it said "young people are the lifeblood of the countryside".The Rural Services Network, a membership organisation devoted to improving services in rural communities in England, said it agreed with the "main thrust" of the report, particularly on the issue of helping first-time buyers as it said "young people are the lifeblood of the countryside".
"Generally we welcome the report," said a spokesman."Generally we welcome the report," said a spokesman.
He went on: "Despite the credit crunch, affordable housing remains one of the most pressing issues affecting the countryside.He went on: "Despite the credit crunch, affordable housing remains one of the most pressing issues affecting the countryside.
"Adequate affordable housing in rural areas is vital - not only for people who live in the countryside, but people who live everywhere."Adequate affordable housing in rural areas is vital - not only for people who live in the countryside, but people who live everywhere.
"A whole host of key rural workers, including police officers, teachers and nurses can't afford to buy their own homes.""A whole host of key rural workers, including police officers, teachers and nurses can't afford to buy their own homes."
The report was also welcomed by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).The report was also welcomed by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
"It is so refreshing to read a report which puts long term planning, local distinctiveness, and community consent at the heart of its recommendations," said Tom Oliver, Head of Rural Policy at the CPRE."It is so refreshing to read a report which puts long term planning, local distinctiveness, and community consent at the heart of its recommendations," said Tom Oliver, Head of Rural Policy at the CPRE.
He said the CPRE "wholly supports the identification of the planning system as the key to high quality, attractive settlements and surrounding countryside".He said the CPRE "wholly supports the identification of the planning system as the key to high quality, attractive settlements and surrounding countryside".