26
Mar
Government rural housing response welcomed
The government has provided its reaction to a report into rural
housing issues that was chaired by Liberal Democrat MP Matthew
Taylor last year.
In the response by housing minister Margaret Beckett and
environment secretary Hilary Benn, the government said it broadly
agreed with many of the recommendations, including the suggestion
that there is a need to streamline planning and get local
communities involved in the process of providing more affordable
housing.
Commenting on the government's views, the Commission for Rural
Communities stated: "The lack of affordable rural housing continues
to be the single most pressing problem faced by rural
communities."
It argued that enabling local people to get on the housing ladder
will be vital for the futures of such areas.
An improvement in the supply of affordable housing in the
countryside could help provide more opportunities for first-time
buyers living in such areas to get on to the property ladder.
