The government began consultation on new powers to help keep homes affordable for communities in rural areas. Rural communities with severe housing shortages could be designated as 'protected areas', ensuring affordable housing was retained for local families. All affordable housing providers in these areas could retain a share in new shared-ownership homes, or have the first option to buy back such properties, ensuring they remained available for families in the local community. First-time buyers in rural areas could own a home for as little as £60,000 through an expansion of community land trusts.
Source: Shared Ownership and Leasehold Enfranchisement and Designation of 'Protected Areas': A consultation paper, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236) | Community Land Trusts: A consultation, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Consultation document (1) | Consultation document (2) | DCLG press release | CRC press release | RSN press release
Date: 2008-Oct
The report of a government-commissioned review said that for too many people country life was 'challenging'. House prices were significantly higher than the national average, while rural wages were significantly lower. Affordable homes were few and far between, and business growth was too often restricted. A fundamental shake-up of affordable housing policy was needed to help rural communities. New planning policies were needed to revitalize market towns, creating new neighbourhood extensions with shops and community facilities.
Source: Matthew Taylor MP, Living Working Countryside: The Taylor Review of rural economy and affordable housing, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | Review press release | DCLG press release | CRC press release | CPRE press release | CIH press release | Shelter press release | Housing Corporation press release | NHF press release | CHC press release | RSN press release | Carnegie UK Trust press release | RTPI press release | BBC report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2008-Jul
A report called for a huge increase in affordable housing supply in rural Wales. There was an increasing unmet housing need in rural Wales: homes were getting more expensive; more people were homeless; and there was even less social housing in rural areas than in towns and cities.
Source: JRF Commission on Rural Housing in Wales: Final Report, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Report | Findings | JRF press release | CIH press release | CHC press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Jun
