 Research undertaken by the Countryside Alliance – the leading voice of rural Britain – shows how local councils have failed to meet provision targets for affordable housing on average by over 76 per cent in the past year.
Key Findings:
§ Among the councils in England, Wales and Scotland with responsibility for housing, there will be an annual shortfall of 76 per cent or 176,360 affordable units in 2010/11
§ For rural and semi-rural councils in England, on average, only 29 per cent of the identified need for new affordable housing was planned to be built in 2010/11
§ There are significantly fewer first-time buyers in rural areas, accounting for 27 per cent of all buyers compared with 45 per cent in urban areas
§ Rural housing remains less affordable than in urban areas where average prices are 5.4 times the UK average annual earnings in the countryside
§ Average wages for people working in rural communities are £4,655 lower than the national average
The Countryside Alliance – the leading voice of rural Britain – has today revealed the enormous projected shortfall in affordable housing provision across the UK over the past twelve months. A Freedom of Information request to all local authorities asked how many affordable homes were identified as needed in their latest Housing Needs Survey, and the date of that survey and how many affordable homes they planned for 2010/2011.
Of the 384 councils in England, Wales and Scotland, with responsibility for housing, 311 or 81 per cent responded. In 2010/11 the councils hoped to create just 54,187 new affordable housing units, representing only 24 per cent of identified need. Of the 158 rural and semi-rural councils in England, 135 or 85 per cent responded. The delivery targets set for 2010/11 amounted to just 17,208 or 22 per cent of the identified need.
Rural housing remains less affordable than in urban areas where average prices are 5.4 times average annual earnings in the countryside. Those young people unable to find homes often move to urban areas, placing a further strain on affordable housing in towns and cities. This can also increase the distance people travel to work with the negative environmental consequences. Homes and jobs need to go together. Without homes and jobs there is no community to support local shops, schools and services.
Alice Barnard, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, said:
“Even in the current difficult economic climate, meeting rural housing need must continue to be a priority for the Government, its agencies and local authorities.
“The Countryside Alliance’s research highlights that affordable housing provision is a huge challenge in both urban and rural areas. But if the rural need for affordable housing is not addressed, and urgently, many of those communities upon which our countryside depends will shrivel and die.”
Read the report here.
Shortfall in affordable housing | 
