THE SCOPE AND KEY DRIVERS OF THE CURRENT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN RURAL ENGLAND, AND ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PLANNING, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, IN ADDRESSING THIS CRISIS
INTRODUCTION:
The face of the English countryside is strikingly prosperous with its distinctive landscape, and is greatly valued for personifying our cultural identity, and clenching major economic and environmental assets (Taylor, 2008). The English countryside comprises of around 16,000 small towns, villages and hamlets and is home for over
12 million people and half a million businesses (TCPA, 2012). Gallent et al., (2003) defines rural areas as places with less than 1,000 inhabitants covering at least 20 hectares of land, where particular settlements are not more than 50 meters apart.
Hence, countryside is often perceived to be more socially and environmentally successful, therefore the desire to live in rural areas is steadily growing, but within this context there exists a critical undersupply of housing in rural areas particularly affordable homes with damaging consequences for local communities (Simmons,
1997 and Taylor, 2008).
The English countryside and rural communities are disadvantaged by facing pressures of unemployment and rural depopulation of an unskilled workforce, restrained physical and economic development, environmental degradation through unsustainable development practices, and migration of affluent populace from cities into the countryside (Gallent et al., 2003). Roughly 22% of rural households are living in poverty. Healthcare and public transport facilities are difficult to access in the countryside, whilst there is also a sharp decline in the number of local food and retail shops across rural areas (Gallent et al., 2008). However, above all access to housing is the most critical issue. With the growing population of the country, there is a strong desire to live in rural areas. Yet, despite the high demand insufficient new housing is being provided. House prices in rural areas are relatively higher than the national average, while rural wages are significantly lower (TCPA, 2012). Lack of affordable homes, high
The face of the English countryside is strikingly prosperous with its distinctive landscape, and is greatly valued for personifying our cultural identity, and clenching major economic and environmental assets (Taylor, 2008). The English countryside comprises of around 16,000 small towns, villages and hamlets and is home for over
12 million people and half a million businesses (TCPA, 2012). Gallent et al., (2003) defines rural areas as places with less than 1,000 inhabitants covering at least 20 hectares of land, where particular settlements are not more than 50 meters apart.
Hence, countryside is often perceived to be more socially and environmentally successful, therefore the desire to live in rural areas is steadily growing, but within this context there exists a critical undersupply of housing in rural areas particularly affordable homes with damaging consequences for local communities (Simmons,
1997 and Taylor, 2008).
The English countryside and rural communities are disadvantaged by facing pressures of unemployment and rural depopulation of an unskilled workforce, restrained physical and economic development, environmental degradation through unsustainable development practices, and migration of affluent populace from cities into the countryside (Gallent et al., 2003). Roughly 22% of rural households are living in poverty. Healthcare and public transport facilities are difficult to access in the countryside, whilst there is also a sharp decline in the number of local food and retail shops across rural areas (Gallent et al., 2008). However, above all access to housing is the most critical issue. With the growing population of the country, there is a strong desire to live in rural areas. Yet, despite the high demand insufficient new housing is being provided. House prices in rural areas are relatively higher than the national average, while rural wages are significantly lower (TCPA, 2012). Lack of affordable homes, high
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