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"Definite" problem of rural affordability

There is a "definite" shortage of affordable rural housing, the campaign group Community First has claimed.

The declaration comes as the National Housing Federation and Campaign to Protect Rural England have banded together to call on the government to tackle the shortage of affordable housing.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) claimed that boosting the supply of available properties would help prevent the countryside becoming a "playground for the rich".

In 2005, 105,000 urbanites migrated to the countryside, an increase of 25 per cent on five years' ago.

Rics claims that the countryside is "not a museum" and needs to adapt to changing circumstances and build new homes which do not destroy its natural beauty.

Brian Berry, head of public policy at the group, said: "We support the call for previously developed public land to be made available for affordable housing but also emphasise that development should take place on greenfield sites if deemed to be necessary."

Between 2002 and 2005, there was a four per cent fall in completions, suggesting that affordability is a growing concern.

In some areas, local residents would need to borrow more than seven times their salary to get on the housing ladder.

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09/02/2007 17:54:56

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