The Problem

Local people on modest incomes cannot afford to buy a home or to find rented accommodation in their village for many reasons, including:-

• migration of wealthier people from urban areas to the countryside resulting in an increase in house prices
  
  
• strict planning controls restricting the supply of new houses
  
  
• Right to Buy policy in 1980s and 1990s taking much council housing out of the rented sector
  
  
• end to council house building in 1980s meaning no replacement of stock lost under Right to Buy
  
  
• farm cottages now used as holiday lets or second homes without compensating housing provision for local people
  
  

There are approximately 8,000 small villages in England.  We think that each of them needs at least six or seven affordable homes, reserved specifically for local people.
We estimate that at least 50,000 new homes are needed that local people in small villages can afford.

The consequences of not providing these houses are:-

• Those unable to find homes in their villages swell the lists of those seeking affordable housing in urban areas.
  
  
• Village activities and services need customers, users and participants.  As the number of fulltime residents using local services and taking part in social activities declines, the viability of the village shop, post office, church, bus service, school, pub, cricket club are all undermined.
  
  
• The break up of family and social networks when young people are forced to move away leaves older people increasingly dependent on services provided by the public sector.
  
  
• Efforts to diversify being made by the farming industry will be pointless if employers cannot attract local staff, especially in the recreation and leisure industries where low and seasonal incomes prevail.