Majority of rural councils are failing to meet social housing demand
There are more than 300,000 people on waiting lists for social housing in rural England
The majority of rural local authorities are not setting specific targets for social housing, according to new research.
A new report from the countryside charity CPRE, produced with researchers at the University of the West of England, found only 20% of the country's rural councils have set targets for social rent homes in their Local Plans.
There are currently more than 300,000 people on waiting lists for social housing in rural England, but only 9% of social homes are in the countryside.
Researchers at UWE found 79% of rural local authorities have consistently under-supplied new homes compared to the number of new households.
“Housing in much of rural England is unaffordable for local people," said Professor Danni Sinnett.
"Robust planning policies are essential to delivering more affordable homes and reducing inequality."
Housing shortfalls range from 41 homes in Wyre to a staggering 28,625 homes in Dorset.
"There's an immediate risk that younger people will be priced out and will have to move elsewhere," said Kevin Garvey from the National Housing Federation.
"The challenge that we have in rural areas is that if we're not building affordable homes, there's a real danger of villages losing their thriving, working living aspect.
"For those people who might be opposed to future development, they need to be thinking about what is the future of this village, where are the people who provide services to me? Where are they going to live?"