'Housing nightmare is already here'

Recent predictions that house prices will reach 10 times average salaries by 2026 are already the reality in many rural areas, says the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC).

Speaking on the eve of the CRC’s ‘Affordable Rural Housing Commission: One Year On’ conference, Commission Chairman Stuart Burgess said: “For rural England, the housing nightmare predicted at last week’s launch of the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit has already come true. 

"In some parts of the country, especially the National Parks and other hotspots, prices have risen to as much as 13 times average local earnings.  Our research shows that only about 55% of households can afford to buy housing on the open market in many rural towns and villages.  In the South East that figure worsens to 30%.”

Dr Burgess said: “To illustrate the problem a recent survey of England’s market towns showed that Helston (138%) in Cornwall and Pickering (128%) and Selby (124%) in North Yorkshire are amongst those having the biggest house price increases in the last five years.  Bakewell (18%) in Derbyshire has the second biggest house price increase amongst market towns over the past year and is the fifth most expensive market town in the country with an average house price of  £305,975.  Six of the 10 most expensive market towns were in the South East of England.”

Turning to the work of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission (ARHC), he added: “Whilst there was general support for their analysis of the situation in rural areas and recommendations for action, the crucial point is what has happened since.  The results show that their report raised the profile of rural housing and there have been some positive steps forward nationally with the publication of new planning guidance.  However, there is still much to do in planning, funding and the ‘rural proofing’ of housing policies, particularly at regional and local level.”

At the conference, to be held at the QEII conference centre in Westminster, the CRC will launch the preliminary results
of its survey of progress made and will discuss what more needs to be done. 

Delegates will hear from a number of organisations concerned with the delivery of housing in rural areas, including the Housing Corporation, the Country Land & Business Association and the Campaign to Protect Rural England, as well as speeches from Barry Gardiner, the Rural Affairs Minister, and Yvette Cooper, the Housing Minister.

“Many of those who responded to our consultation called for a detailed action plan to be drawn up to implement the ARHC’s recommendations.  Our conference will help us to identify what more needs doing and by whom”, said Dr Burgess.

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