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Homelessness crisis hits the countryside
NEARLY 700,000 people are now stuck on waiting lists for an affordable home in rural England, the National Housing Federation and Campaign to Protect Rural England have warned.
Over the last five years, the number of people waiting for an affordable home in country areas has soared by 37%, up from 507,757 in 2003 to 695,735 last year.
That means that on average 14,494 people have been added to housing waiting lists in rural areas every month over the last four years.
The situation is now so serious that the Federation and CPRE have launched a charter, Save Rural England, Build Affordable Homes, setting out how the supply of affordable homes could be increased in rural communities.
The figures show that the proportion of homeless households in rural areas has more than doubled over the last five years from 16% to 37% of the national total.
The Federation and the CPRE believe the only way to solve the problem is to build a limited number of affordable homes in every village and rural town where a need has been identified, plus restricting the right to buy in rural areas of acute housing pressure.
Federation Chief Executive David Orr said: "The rural housing crisis is intensifying rapidly, with more and more people being priced out of the market and having to live in cramped and unsuitable conditions.
"Without urgent action by ministers many of our villages are in danger of becoming the preserve of the rich and weekend playgrounds for second home owners, with schools, pubs and post offices at risk of closing because of a lack of customers.
"Others are at risk of becoming very poor – as economic activity and young people of a working age are simply squeezed out."
* A MOVE that could see money provided to build affordable homes shared throughout the borough has been welcomed.
Cllr Mike Harrison, who raised the issue at a meeting of High Peak Borough Council, said 84 per cent of section 106 money, a commuted sum paid by developers for affordable houses, was due to be spent in the Buxton area with 16 per cent in Glossop but none in the central area.
"Due to the current housing moratorium unless the current policy is changed the only affordable projects will be restricted to the south of the borough. Clearly that is unfair. There is high demand for affordable housing everywhere," he said.
The matter is to looked at by the Development Plan Select Committee.High Peak MP Tom Levitt said: "The problem of affordable rural housing is largely a hidden one as people often leave the countryside to find a home of their own. Nevertheless, the demand for affordable rural housing has risen, as it has it urban areas, principally due to rising house prices.
"At last that price surge has been checked and we await stability returning to the housing market. Locally, almost 500 homes scheduled for building in High Peak have been held up by what I regard as the inappropriate use of Town Green applications. A third of these are classed as rented or 'affordable'. Many are now several years behind schedule. Other developments - such as the new Barratt estate in Harpur Hill - have been delayed because the developer has cold feet. I hope this too will right itself over coming months. The Government has brought millions of pounds of spending on affordable homes forward.
"The Peak Park has understandable restrictions on the type and quantity of housing that is built, but I know they want to see appropriate numbers and types of houses built to meet local need."
Conservative candidate Andrew Bingham, who is also the High Peak Council's executive member for social and community development, said: "We are trying to create as much affordable housing as we can.
"The difficulties we've got is the economic downturn: there are only five companies who will lend on affordable housing. We've to find the land, and then we've got to find someone who will build it.
"There is a distinct shortage in the High Peak because it's an area where people want to live and that puts prices up. The people you feel particularly sorry for are those whose children are buying their first homes and can't afford to stay in the High Peak."
He said that 31,000 fewer social housing units per year had been built during Labour's decade in power than under the Conservatives.
Cllr Bingham, who is at the Conservative Party conference, said: "We've had three debates on affordable housing and we're working on plans to address the problem."
Lib Dem candidate Steve Sharp said: "The situation in the High Peak is hopeless.
"This report brings no surprise to me. I have known for many months the total lack of affordable housing.
"In the High Peak so far there have only been 11 properties built in the past year out of a target of 45 – and not one old property been brought back into use.
"Unless there is a total change of direction with Government policy I cannot see it improving.
"Certainly in the present economic climate I can only see it getting worse which a very sad reflection on rural and affordable housing across the High Peak and the national as a whole."
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Weather for Buxton
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
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