Rural crisis as 60% of young can’t afford to live in villages

LONELY young people living in rural areas are plan- ning a mass exodus in search of better public transport and more affordable housing, a charity has claimed.

Only two in five 16 to 25 year olds who are living in the countryside anticipate staying there over the next five years.

Four in five (84 per cent) of those polled by YouGov for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said their decision to move was influenced by feelings of isolation and difficulty connecting with friends online.

Crispin Truman, chief executive of CPRE, said: “The sad reality is that the majority of young people born and raised in the countryside feel they can no longer afford to live there – despite the overwhelming majority saying they would like to.

“The shameful inequities of rural life mean young people growing up today struggle simply to meet up with their friends – in person or online – because public transport and broadband in the countryside has been treated as an afterthought for too long.”

The CPRE found the demand for social housing was growing nearly six times faster than the rate of supply in rural areas.

The backlog of lowincome families needing accommodation would take 121 years to clear at current rates, its research has suggested.

A separate report found one in 10 families in need of housing are stuck on council waiting lists for more than five years.

The Local Government Authority (LGA) today warns these waiting lists could almost double next year to as many as 2.1 million households.

This is because of the impact of Covid-related support schemes winding down and a potential increase in homelessness.

The LGA is calling on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to use this month’s Spending Review to give councils the powers and funding to build 100,000 social homes for rent each year.

Councillor David Renard, spokesman for the body, said: “There is a desperate need to build more social housing in this country, which should be a central part of the Government’s ambition to level-up and build back better following the pandemic.”

Social housing demand six times supply