By Mark Mackay

RURAL AREAS such as Kinross-shire and the Carse of Gowrie risk being destroyed by the huge gulf between property prices and local incomes.

And villages could become “exclusive enclaves of the elderly and wealthy” unless efforts are made to vastly increase the amount of affordable housing available.

The stark warnings feature in a study carried out south of the border by Liberal Democrat MP Matthew Taylor for Prime Minister Gordon Brown and have been echoed by Michael Barnacle, a senior councillor in Perth and Kinross.

“We are at a crossroads for the countryside,” said Mr Taylor in his report.

“We can continue to let too many villages become exclusive enclaves of the elderly and wealthy, and market towns be ringed with endless housing estates—or we can create attractive communities in which people want and can afford to live.”

The issue is one that will be appreciated by residents in Kinross-shire and the Carse of Gowrie, with both areas having experienced major growth in recent years.

Government figures indicate that Perth and Kinross is set to be the fastest growing local authority area in Scotland, with a projected growth rate of 22%.

Kinross-shire is set be most affected by that growth, not least because of its interest to commuters working in the central belt.

That growth is already being illustrated by the number of steading conversions and luxury new build developments proposed for the area, leading some prominent local figures to bemoan a chronic lack of affordable housing.

Kinross-shire councillor Michael Barnacle has been vocal in his opposition to the level, type and situation of development in the area for some time.

In May, Mr Barnacle resigned from his post as vice-convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s development control committee in disgust after approval was given to a series of rural housing developments.

His concerns included that the developments were designed with commuters in mind rather than local people, a lack of affordable housing and insufficient local school capacity.

Yesterday the councillor said he harboured grave concerns if development continued without any safeguards or restrictions.

“Kinross-shire is under considerable development threat from the central belt and also from growth figures,” he said.

“I view that with alarm as a local member and believe it is neither desirable nor sustainable.

“The development sector is targeting its efforts towards the top end of the market.

“These homes are for the commuter market from the central belt and that does not help local people in rural areas.”

Responding to yesterday’s report by Matthew Taylor MP, Housing Minister Caroline Flint MP said that an “exodus” of young people towards towns was affecting the countryside.

“It’s simply not fair that people in rural communities struggle to afford a place of their own,” she said.

“I am determined that we do everything we can do to further help people in rural communities into home ownership.”

And Countryside Alliance chief executive Simon Hart added, “This is an unsustainable situation and the answer is to ensure that the countryside, which is one of our greatest national assets, does not become an exclusive enclave, but is developed with inclusive, community minded values at heart.”

THE CREDIT CRUNCH has hit the UK housing market.

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