Rural Housing Week – demand for rural housing outstrips supply

Although urban areas have drawn most of the attention in discussions around the ongoing housing affordability crisis, it is a big issue in rural areas. A combination of issues, including limited rural amenities and increasing property prices, often limits housing development in rural areas. These issues, combined with lower incomes in rural areas and an increase in urban migration to the countryside, mean that the demand for rural housing often outstrips supply, driving up costs beyond that which local residents can afford.

So what can a rural community do about this mismatch? Start by contacting your local Rural Housing Enabler for advice on acquiring evidence of local housing need so, as a community, you can fully understand the depth of the problem locally:  housing@wrccrural.org.uk or 01789 842182