90% of country homes too dear for locals
Jul 24 2008 by William Green, The Journal
GORDON Brown was last night told North East rural communities could die because house prices are too high for local people.
The stark warning came in a report commissioned by the Prime Minister, which revealed nearly nine out of 10 rural houses were unaffordable.
Report author Matthew Taylor said the situation could become worse in the North East, with young families forced out by ex-city dwellers moving in.
The Liberal Democrat MP called for controls on second and holiday homes, with 42% of properties in parts of Berwick borough in this category, although the Government is yet to be convinced.
Ministers were urged to support rural economic growth as wages are £4,655 lower than the national average and first time homes cost £16,000 more than in other parts of the country.
Mr Taylor – who visited the region for his report – called for an overhaul of the failing “urban-centric” planning system and for local people to get greater decision-making powers to ensure housing needs were met. He said: “The English countryside is a wonderful place to live and work if you can afford a home, if you can find a reasonably paid job. But for too many people, country life is challenging and urgent action is vital to stop villages dying and our market towns being wrecked by unsympathetic development.”
He revealed the Church of England was interested in leasing or selling land for affordable housing because of a “moral responsibility”.
Regional policy officer for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CRPE) Nic Best said more guidance on second homes would help. “If you want our rural communities and our rural villages to survive, we need houses for people who live and work in rural communities that are affordable.”
Professor Philip Lowe, of Newcastle University’s Centre for Rural Economy, said urban centres had a stranglehold on strategic housing provision.
But he said improving housing supply was the best way to deal with second home ownership and attract newcomers to boost the economy.
Tory parliamentary candidate for Berwick Anne-Marie Trevelyan said local planners were best placed to decide what was needed and she called for the Al in Northumberland to be improved. She said: “We would see better wages and local families able to stay in the area.”
Beadnell parish council chairman Richard Patterson said cheaper rented homes were vital for young married couples who often held seasonal tourist jobs – though compulsory purchase by councils might be necessary. But he said second homes were also important to the area’s economy.
Housing Minister Caroline Flint said it was “simply not fair” rural people struggled to afford a place of their own and she promised to do everything possible to help.
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