Affordability issue biggest rural problem, says poll

A BBC poll has revealed that a lack of affordable homes is the biggest problem the countryside faces.

The ICM poll for the Country File programme found that the most common top concern listed was the lack of reasonably-priced housing, making up 26 per cent of the total answers.

Such a total was more than twice that of the next highest concern, the price of food, whereas just four per cent listed environmental concerns such as overdevelopment and pesticide use and only one per cent diseases such as foot and mouth, bluetongue and bird flu.

The findings suggest that those living in the country may be well advised to consider the self build option in order to get on the housing ladder.

Last week a lack of affordable housing in rural areas was one of the concerns raised in a report on the state of the countryside by the commission for rural communities, due to be released this week.