'More needs to be done' over rural housing, says CPRE

The government's plans to build more homes in the smallest rural communities are good, but not enough, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) has said.

CPRE policy director Neil Sinden stated that he welcomed the proposal to create 10,300 subsidised, affordable homes in settlements containing under 3,000 people over the next three years.

However, he said, the government should have also pledged to meet the affordable homes commission's proposal for 11,000 new homes in settlements of less than 10,000.

Mr Sinden urged the department for communities and Local Government (DCLG) "to set a target along the lines suggested by the commission at the earliest opportunity".

The shortfall in rural homes may prompt some to opt for self build rather than waiting for such homes to come along.

In a related development, the DCLG said responses to the new housing green paper had shown "strong support" for the idea of building more affordable new homes.


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