Rural councils reveal plans to construct only a fourth of social housing, according to study findings
The housing crisis in rural England, driven by an under-supply of new homes, particularly social rent housing, and the lack of affordable homebuilding plans by local authorities, requires a comprehensive solution.
A recent report commissioned by countryside charity CPRE and conducted by the University of Western England highlights this issue. The research reveals that only 20% of rural local authorities have specific social rent housing targets, with 79% consistently undersupplying new homes relative to new household formation since 1997[1][2].
The government's commitment to build more social housing is questioned due to insufficient priority given to building social homes in rural local plans. This has led to over 300,000 people being on rural social housing waiting lists[1][2]. Rural rents and house prices are significantly higher than urban areas, while wages are comparatively lower, making market or even "affordable" housing unaffordable for many local workers and families[1][5].
To address this, CPRE recommends setting and enforcing clear targets for social housing, increasing the supply of social housing and affordability, reforming planning policies to support rural development, and ensuring strong government oversight.
Reinstating mandatory rural-specific targets for social rent homes in Local Plans would compel councils to prioritize these developments[1][2]. Delivering a higher proportion of genuinely affordable social rent housing—as opposed to homes priced merely up to 80% of market value—is essential[1][2].
There is a call for planning systems to better support sustainable rural development, helping rural communities maintain vitality and local services[3]. Proposals like the government’s designation of "grey belt" land (lower-quality green belt areas) for housing development could also increase supply without encroaching on high-quality countryside[4].
Stronger leadership is needed to prioritize rural housing needs explicitly and embed expectations for affordable housing in every new rural development[2][3]. Calls have been made for figures like Angela Rayner to make social and genuinely affordable rural housing a clear national priority[2].
The housing shortfalls in rural areas range from 41 homes in Wyre to a staggering 28,625 properties in Dorset[6]. Rates of homelessness have increased by 73% in rural areas since 2018[7]. In some parts of the countryside, cases of rough sleeping now exceed those in major cities[8].
To tackle these issues, CPRE also recommends supporting Homes England in helping rural local authorities to increase the delivery of new social properties[9]. The full report from CPRE and the University of Western England can be found online.
Recently, a 'top class' affordable homes site has opened in Bradford, providing a model for sustainable and affordable housing development[10]. As the government aims to deliver 1.5 million houses this Parliament, rural areas risk being overlooked. A more concerted effort is needed to ensure rural communities are not left behind in national housing strategies[1][2][3][4][5].
- The government's focus on rural housing development needs expansion to include a stronger emphasis on the construction of social rent housing, as a considerable number of people in rural areas are currently living on waiting lists for social housing.
- To foster more inclusive rural communities, it is crucial to not only increase the supply of social housing, but also to ensure that a significant proportion of this housing is genuinely affordable, as it is challenging for many local workers and families to afford market or even "affordable" housing in rural areas where rents and house prices are high yet wages are comparatively low.
