Price warning for countryside homes

Future homebuyers will be priced out of the countryside market unless the government takes steps to curb inflated house prices, experts warn.

The lack of affordable housing in the countryside is an increasing problem as British homebuyers are being priced out of the market.

The National Housing Federation and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), both rarely seen on the same side of a housing debate, have outlined their concerns over the shortage of rural homes.

And both are calling on the government to construct viable timelines on the areas raised by the Affordable Rural Housing Commission''s (ARHC) report last year, including restricting the right to buy in certain rural areas, bringing forward previously developed land for affordable housing and cutting the number of empty properties in country areas.

"Eight months have passed since the ARHC gave us a blueprint for addressing the rural housing crisis," said David Orr, the National Housing Federation''s executive.

He added that the government "can''t afford to drag its heels while so many people in our rural communities are denied access to an affordable home".

The two organisations are due to put forward their concerns at a conference in Rugby, Warwickshire, next week.


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