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Rural residential property needs 'hidden away'
24/11/10
Edited by Bob Witham.The "popular image" of rural life often hides the issues affecting families in the countryside, such as the need for builders to deliver more affordable housing, according to one expert.
Martin Collett of the English Rural Housing Association said securing a suitable residential property is very difficult for many people because of a combination of generally low incomes and high property prices.
He added that recognising the "crisis" in the supply of affordable accommodation in rural areas is a vital element of tackling the "drift" of young families to the cities.
These households are the "lifeblood of rural communities" as they provide crucial support to the local economy and services, Mr Collett argued.
Earlier this year, Rural Coalition chairman Matthew Taylor warned that Britain's countryside risks becoming "part-dormitory, part-theme park and part-retirement home" unless urgent action is taken to improve the supply of affordable residential property.
