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Home prices 'hitting rural lives' Home prices 'hitting rural lives'
(about 2 hours later)
Villages will become "exclusive enclaves of the elderly and wealthy" unless more affordable housing is built, an independent review has said. English villages will become "exclusive enclaves of the elderly and wealthy" unless more affordable housing is built, an independent review has said.
Planning restrictions should be eased to encourage rural businesses, and bland housing estates discouraged, the government-commissioned report found.Planning restrictions should be eased to encourage rural businesses, and bland housing estates discouraged, the government-commissioned report found.
Expensive homes and low wages threatened rural communities, author Lib Dem MP Matthew Taylor said.Expensive homes and low wages threatened rural communities, author Lib Dem MP Matthew Taylor said.
Young families were said to being priced out of their own communities. Countryside campaigners and house builders have welcomed the report.
The review - Living Working Countryside - found house prices have been driven up by an influx of people moving from cities. The review - Living Working Countryside - found house prices in England 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. The effect has been to price young local families out of their own communities.
The report found that England'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 areas.
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. In rural parts of England only 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.
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
Unusually, support for Mr Taylor's recommendations has come from both developers and those campaigning to save 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".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".
House builders
The National Housing Federation welcomed the report and called on ministers to implement the recommendations "as quickly as possible."
Federation chief executive David Orr said: "The Taylor review sets out how to revive England's villages as sustainable places in which to live and work and the onus is now on the government to enact its recommendations.
"Matthew Taylor shows how villages can be living, breathing entities, instead of fusty museum pieces that are the preserve of the rich and elderly.
"The report must not be allowed to gather dust on ministerial shelves."