Poor broadband drives young people out of rural England

POOR broadband is helping to kill off rural society, a report has said, claiming that young people leave for cities and don’t return.

The National Housing Federation has warned that family life is being damaged as children increasingly leave home for university or to work and fail to come back because of poor facilities in the countryside.

In a report it said: “We know that many people choose to leave rural areas and commute to nearby towns and cities to work.

“Young members of the rural population move to urban areas for university and do not return. Rural connectivity to broadband and public transport limits the number of people willing to start and run businesses in rural areas.”

The report adds: “By 2039, the number of working age households in England is projected to fall by 1 per cent in rural areas, while increasing in urban areas by nearly 11 per cent.” Analysis of household figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government also showed that by 2039 nearly half of rural households will be aged over 65. The data showed that over the past five years, 52 rural schools and 81 Post Offices have closed, and that people were unable to afford rural homes.

David Orr, chief executive at the National Housing Federation, said: “Rural life as we know it is disappearing fast. Families and young people wanting to settle, work and grow in rural England are being priced out of areas they’ve known all their lives. The impact of this is huge. A lack of affordable housing is putting a huge strain on rural economies, populations and vital community services. Schools are closing and pubs are serving their last ever orders.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Better Broadband campaign has highlighted the damaging impact poor internet coverage is having on families and businesses in rural communities.