Rural communities risk ‘terminal decline’

‘Terminal decline’ alert over rural flight

HOUSING: Rural communities are at risk of “terminal decline” as a homes crisis leads to thousands of working-age people leaving the English countryside, a leading thinktank has warned.

RURAL communities are at risk of “terminal decline” as a housing crisis leads to thousands of working-age people leaving the English countryside, a leading thinktank has warned.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) calls for a new deal to provide more affordable housing for rural areas in a report released today.

The IPPR found that the average rural house price of £320,700 was more than £87,000 higher than in urban areas, excluding London.

Just eight per cent of housing stock rural areas is classed as affordable – compared with 20 per cent in urban areas – and not enough new homes are being built, the report said.

The housing crisis could accelerate the rate at which families are leaving the countryside to find homes in cities.

The report said: “The flight of working-age people from rural communities could put some villages at risk of terminal decline.”

Between 2014 and 2038, the working-age population in rural areas is predicted to decline by 75,000, while the population aged over 65 will grow by about 1.5 million, an IPPR analysis found.

IPPR research fellow Darren Baxter said: “The high cost of housing in rural areas poses a threat to rural life.

“Without somewhere affordable to live, young people will leave the countryside, services will close and villages could face terminal decline.

“An ambitious programme of rural housebuilding could not only have benefits for individuals but could enhance whole communities, halting the decline in rural life.”

The IPPR report calls for a new rural affordable homes programme and reform of the planning process to allow for more housebuilding in villages.

Recommendations include negotiations between regional and central government to develop devolution deals which include funding for new affordable housing.

IPPR associate director Luke Murphy said: “A lack of affordable housing is often seen as only an urban problem, but it is a critical issue in rural areas too, where housing is less affordable than in most towns and cities.

“At the heart of this crisis is a huge shortage of affordable homes and the failure of successive governments to develop policies which meet the needs of rural areas.

“We are calling for a new deal on housing for rural communities.

“This must include a new rural affordable homes programme, reform of the planning process to allow for the provision of affordable homes in villages and a commitment to put the needs of rural areas at the heart of government policy-making.”

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has yet to comment on the IPPR report.

At the heart of this crisis is a huge shortage of affordable homes. Institute for Public Policy Research associate director Luke Murphy.