On February 25, 2025, a debate on the provision of affordable rural housing was held in Westminster Hall. The debate was introduced by Olivia Bailey, the member of parliament for Reading West and Mid Berkshire. Bailey argued that the lack of affordable rural housing was a major problem in rural areas, and that it was having a negative impact on communities. She called on the government to take action to address the problem.
The Extent of the Problem
Bailey cited a number of statistics to support her argument. For example, she noted that in the five years to 2022, house prices in the countryside increased at close to twice the rate of those in urban areas. She also pointed out that there are very few properties available for private rent in rural areas, and that the small number that are available are simply unaffordable for many people.
Impact on Communities
The lack of affordable housing is having a number of negative impacts on rural communities. For example, it is making it difficult for young people to stay in the areas where they grew up. It is also leading to the closure of schools and other essential services. In addition, it is making it difficult for businesses to attract and retain staff.
Government Response
The Minister for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook, responded to the debate by acknowledging the challenges facing rural communities. He said that the government was committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing in rural areas. He also announced that the government would be consulting on a new national planning policy framework, which would include measures to support affordable rural housing.
In addition to the measures announced by Pennycook, the government has also announced a number of other initiatives to increase the supply of housing, including the new towns programme and the new homes accelerator.
The new towns programme will see the development of a new generation of new towns in England. The government has established an independent New Towns Taskforce to identify and recommend locations for new towns. The taskforce is due to submit its final report in the summer.
The new homes accelerator is a programme that will provide support to developers to build new homes on large sites. The accelerator has already identified 350 sites with the potential to deliver approximately 700,000 homes.
The government has also announced a number of new investments in housing, including £29.6 million from the brownfield infrastructure and land fund to unlock 1,000 new homes in Broadford City Village.
Opposition to government plans
However, the government's plans have been criticised by some, who argue that they do not go far enough. For example, the Labour Party has called for a "once-in-a-generation" increase in social housing. They have also criticised the government's decision to cut right to buy discounts in some areas.
Despite these criticisms, the government's commitment to increasing the supply of affordable housing is welcome. It is clear that the lack of affordable housing is a major problem in rural areas. The measures announced by the government should help to address this problem. However, it remains to be seen whether they will be enough to make a real difference.