Warning over rural homes planning

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Proposed investment in affordable rural housing will mean a fall in the number of homes built, research suggests.

The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) study said there would be 5% fewer homes being provided in each of the next three years.

The research also reveals a minority of English regions have examined the need for housing in their rural areas.

The commission said the situation was "alarming" given that the affordability crisis was greatest in rural areas.

'Central pillar'

Trevor Cherrett, the rural watchdog's head of planning, housing and transport, said: "Regional bodies are failing to live up to the challenge of providing affordable homes to families and communities living in rural areas.

"We welcome the attention that government has given to improving the supply of rural affordable housing, including the promise of a national target for rural affordable housing."

He called on the government to set challenging targets for providing affordable housing in rural areas.

Ministers should ensure regional assemblies use extra money that has been made available to meet such targets, he added.

Mr Cherrett said affordable housing was a "central pillar" of sustainable rural communities.