Lack of affordable housing drives rural exodus

More than 100,000 young adults will leave rural England over the next three years, as a lack of affordable housing threatens village life.

The National Housing Federation has calculated 103,000 people aged between 24 and 35 will abandon the countryside by 2012 to seek homes and jobs in urban areas.

It has launched a campaign calling for 100,000 affordable homes to be built in rural areas over the next decade.

Federation chief executive David Orr said: ‘We want affordable homes to be built in every rural area where there is a proven need for it. It’s crucial that every rural local authority in the country now draws up an action plan detailing how they plan to meet the demand for affordable housing.’

The NHF found first-time buyers in rural areas are increasingly priced out of the market by wealthier buyers seeking second homes and retirement properties.

Over the past five years, the gap between rising rural house prices and falling incomes has widened. This has led to a 40 per cent increase in waiting lists for affordable housing, with 700,000 people now waiting for homes.

In 24 areas of England, the number of residents aged between 24 and 35 has dropped by at least 30 per cent. Some of the most severely affected areas include East Dorset, West Somerset and South Shropshire.

Mr Orr said: ‘Rural England desperately needs young adults to support and contribute to their communities, but high house prices and a chronic shortage of affordable housing are threatening to turn our villages into family free zones.’