Rising house costs slam door on locals

With prices continuing to rise, there is concern that local people will being forced out by wealthier city dwellers buying homes in the countryside.

The State of the Countryside 2002 report published by the Countryside Agency shows that rural people are having to spend much more of their income to mortgage costs (57 per cent), compared to urban dwellers at 32 per cent.

"The countryside could become the preserve of the wealthy, threatening the whole nature of rural communities and viability of services," said Countryside Agency chairman Ewen Cameron.

Alan Saunders, a rural housing enabler based at Malvern Hills District Council, said that surveys carried out by him in Worcestershire and a Council Housing Needs Survey all highlighted a necessity for affordable housing.

"It's a desperate need and its getting worse as house prices go up," he said. "It's getting out of hand and young people who want to get on to housing ladder have very few opportunities.

"MHDC's draft survey shows that the average house sale in Malvern last year was about £140,000 but the actual level of income across the district was significantly short of the amount required to actually buy a house.

"It affects rents as well because a lot of people who have money to spare are investing in property instead of the stock market. That means they are buying second homes to rent but at prices that are well above what people can afford."

The situation is such that even if every development opportunity highlighted in the draft local plan were built as an affordable home, the need in the Malvern Hills would still not be satisfied.

"It's that desperate," said Mr Saunders. "At this stage the developing Local Plan will actually include within it some re-commendations on affordable housing but details have not been finalised."

Parish councils interested in identifying housing needs and developing small development schemes, should contact Mr Saunders on 01684 862373.