Campaigners have warned that the number of affordable homes in rural areas has remained static as councils ‘continue to ignore’ the potential of Rural Exception Sites.
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said the number of new affordable homes built on Rural Exception Sites – small patches of agricultural land outside a village boundary – is at a three-year low at only 1,020 properties.
CLA president Ross Murray said: ‘A three-year low in building rates is bad news for rural communities struggling with the cost of housing but unsurprising when coupled with the uncertainty caused by the Housing and Planning Act and the Government’s extension of the Right to Buy to housing association tenants.
‘The figures also highlight large discrepancies between how local authorities are using Rural Exception Sites. Housing need is widespread but Cornwall Council has provided nearly one fifth of all affordable housing on these sites over the past five years while others have provided none at all.’
The CLA is calling on the Government to calling on the Government to introduce Permitted Development Rights to build affordable homes to rent on Rural Exception Sites, and make these properties exempt from Inheritance and Capital Gains Taxs.
