The challenges facing rural housing provision

Lord Richard Best

“Rural communities are the worst hit by the pressures that we now face right across the

country in terms of housing shortages. There are extra pressures that don’t exist in towns, in places where wages are traditionally lower but

house prices are higher.”

Sue Southwell, Rural Housing Enabler, Community Council of Devon

“There were challenges from the village and district council about the level of need, so we

had to justify our survey and be very confident to maintain our insistence that the housing

need was a reality .”

Elsa Brailey, Head of Development, Home Group

“With the number of second homes in rural areas, there are more challenges around long-term demand for housing. Communities begin

to dissolve as the number of second homes increases.”

Cllr Richard Foster, Craven District Council

“Rural development is expensive and there are land availability issues that make it more

difficult for new homes to be built and for young people to stay and live locally.”