Rural communities across Scotland could “shrivel and die because” of a lack of affordable housing.
The Countryside Alliance has warned there is a massive shortfall in the amount of affordable housing needed in rural areas over the last year.
A freedom of information request to all local authorities asked how many affordable homes were identified as needed in their most recent housing needs survey and then how many homes they planned to build over the last year.
Although only 311 of the 384 local authorities in Scotland, England and Wales responded to the request, results revealed demand is far outstripping supply of affordable housing.
In Scotland, councils identified a need for 8035 new homes in rural areas, but only 4456 were built.
Fife Council built 210 of the 532 homes it deemed necessary (39%) while Perth and Kinross council built 180 of the 557 homes it identified a need for.
Angus Council did notrespond to the Countryside Alliance’s request.
Across the UK 17,208 affordable homes in rural areas were built, 22% of what was deemed necessary.
The problem is exacerbated because rural homes are generally more expensive than in urban areas while earnings are generally lower.First-time buyersFirst-time buyers account for just over a quarter of all sales in rural areas, compared to nearly half in cities and towns.
Countryside Alliance chief executive Alice Barnard said, “Even in the current difficult economic climate, meeting rural housing needs must continue to be a priority for the government, its agencies and local authorities.
“The Countryside Alliance’s research highlights that affordable housing provision is a huge challenge in both urban and rural areas, but if the rural need for affordable housing is n ot addressed, and urgently, many of those communities upon which our countryside depends will shrivel and die.”
In June Perth and Kinross Council unveiled plans to build 39 new affordable housing units in Scone, Pitlochry and Blairgowrie.
Councillors will be told later this month that work to build some of 81 previously announced affordable housing units across Perth and Kinross is already under way.
Alan Russell, senior manager of Fife Council’s housing and neighbourhood services department, said, “We are working as hard as we can to improve access to housing across Fife in a number of different ways.”
The council has recently announced record levels of funding to help address the need for affordable housing.
Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said, “There is no doubt that the lack of affordable housing is a significant problem for rural areas of Scotland, as it is in many urban areas.”
The Scottish Government said, “These are difficult times for Scotland’s housing market, and especially for families in rural communities, so we are doing everything we can to support rural life and the rural economy.
“We understand that people in rural areas can struggle to find affordable homes to rent or buy.
“That is why we are promoting increased housing supply in rural Scotland and have decided to introduce flexibility in the way we fund housing in those areas.”
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user wwworks.