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| North Devon is 'least affordable' | North Devon is 'least affordable' |
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| North Devon is the least affordable area of the UK to live according to figures from Halifax Estate Agents. | North Devon is the least affordable area of the UK to live according to figures from Halifax Estate Agents. |
| Homes in the district cost an average of £252,792, 9.1 times higher than average earnings. | Homes in the district cost an average of £252,792, 9.1 times higher than average earnings. |
| Eight of the 10 least affordable rural areas of the country, all with average prices at least eight times higher than local pay, are in the South West. | Eight of the 10 least affordable rural areas of the country, all with average prices at least eight times higher than local pay, are in the South West. |
| Kerrier, Penwith and North Cornwall are all in the top 10 least affordable districts in the country. | |
| The report states that Kerrier's average house price is nearly £210,000 while the average income is £24,000. | |
| In South Hams, Devon, only 7% of property purchases are by first time buyers. | In South Hams, Devon, only 7% of property purchases are by first time buyers. |
| The problem is exacerbated by a lack of social housing in rural areas, with this accounting for just 13% of the rural housing stock, compared with 20% in towns and cities. The difficulties for home buyers in rural locations are particularly acute among first-time buyers Suren Thiru, economist at Halifax | The problem is exacerbated by a lack of social housing in rural areas, with this accounting for just 13% of the rural housing stock, compared with 20% in towns and cities. The difficulties for home buyers in rural locations are particularly acute among first-time buyers Suren Thiru, economist at Halifax |
| Suren Thiru, economist at Halifax, said: "Housing in rural areas is less affordable than in urban areas due to a combination of higher average prices and lower average earnings. | Suren Thiru, economist at Halifax, said: "Housing in rural areas is less affordable than in urban areas due to a combination of higher average prices and lower average earnings. |
| "The difficulties for home buyers in rural locations are particularly acute among first-time buyers and are exacerbated by relatively low levels of social housing provision." | "The difficulties for home buyers in rural locations are particularly acute among first-time buyers and are exacerbated by relatively low levels of social housing provision." |
| The Department for Communities and Local Government said the Government had already taken steps to help people get on to the housing ladder in rural areas. | The Department for Communities and Local Government said the Government had already taken steps to help people get on to the housing ladder in rural areas. |
| A spokesman said the solution lay in increasing the housing stock in the countryside across the UK. | A spokesman said the solution lay in increasing the housing stock in the countryside across the UK. |
| Changes to council tax on second homes, new rules enabling councils to more easily identify sites for new houses to be built, and increasing the number of Community Land Trusts to deliver affordable housing had all helped to ease the strain on first-time buyers in rural areas, the department said. | Changes to council tax on second homes, new rules enabling councils to more easily identify sites for new houses to be built, and increasing the number of Community Land Trusts to deliver affordable housing had all helped to ease the strain on first-time buyers in rural areas, the department said. |
| "The government has committed £8bn for the biggest-ever national affordable housing programme," a spokesman said. | "The government has committed £8bn for the biggest-ever national affordable housing programme," a spokesman said. |
| "Additionally, Defra's £3.9bn investment in rural development in England shows that we want to see businesses, jobs and services in the countryside flourish." | "Additionally, Defra's £3.9bn investment in rural development in England shows that we want to see businesses, jobs and services in the countryside flourish." |