“We need cross-departmental working and cross-party agreement to forge a coherent long-term strategy that will secure good housing and the flourishing of our rural and coastal communities.” [Bishop of Exeter]
“We’re asking the next government to implement a series of policy changes to safeguard the future of supported housing.” [National Housing Federation]
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There is a clear need for more affordable housing in rural areas – with the Bishop of Exeter joining calls for the government to address the impact of holiday lets in rural areas in England, as reported by the Rural Services Network:
“A report published jointly this month by the South-West Social Mobility Commission and the University of Exeter highlights how the housing crisis, in combination with poor public transport, is contributing to low educational attainment across the region. Transport investment in the region stands at £308 per head of the population, compared with the national average of £474. Inadequate public transport disadvantages poorer residents and young people who wish to engage in educational and apprenticeship opportunities. In combination, this exacerbates the cycle of deprivation and stifles aspiration.
“The human and societal cost of the housing crisis is accelerating. Employers struggle to recruit for the hospitality and retail industries. Healthcare providers and community services suffer shortages because key workers cannot afford to live in rural and coastal areas. In his 2021 report, the Chief Medical Officer for England noted the high proportion of the worst health and well-being outcomes for individuals that are concentrated in coastal communities, and access to quality affordable housing is a contributory factor.
“The Government need to recognise the scale of the problem. We need cross-departmental working and cross-party agreement to forge a coherent long-term strategy that will secure good housing and the flourishing of our rural and coastal communities.“
In the meantime, Rosie Mclellan from the National Housing Federation says we need a long-term plan for housing:
“A decent, affordable home should be a right for us all, wherever we live across the country. It is the foundation of our health, happiness and prosperity.
“For example, recent research shows that were it not for supported housing, 41,000 more people would be homeless, with a further 30,000 people at risk of homelessness. The Department for Health and Social Care’s White Paper also predicts that demand for supported homes in England will increase by 125,000 by 2030..
“We’re asking the next government to implement a series of policy changes to safeguard the future of supported housing.”
Plus, the RSA’s conference on Tuesday 5 September 2023 has three workstreams focussed on net-zero newbuild, low carbon retrofit, and community-led housing – which shows there is a lot of considered thought going on about the future of rural housing.
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