Local authorities should work with rural estate-owners to create new affordable homes, according to a report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
The institution’s recently published Rural Policy Paper is urging landowners behind England’s 5,000 largest rural estates to release land for affordable housing.
Jeremy Blackburn, Head of UK policy, said RICS would like to see local authorities work sympathetically with estate owners to encourage the release of land for eight or more affordable homes.
“To further boost rural economies, we're calling on government to extend the current devolution agenda to market towns,” said Jeremy.
“A new generation of enterprise zones that can be made appropriate for land based businesses is a welcome first step; an urban only devolution agenda is short-sighted and ignores the major contributor that is the rural economy.”
Leigh Rix, Head of Property and Land for Devon Estates, said providing affordable housing for local people was an important step towards building sustainable communities.
“From the outset we worked with the Exeter-based housing association, Cornerstone, to provide the right mix of affordable homes – for rent and shared ownership – to enable young families to stay in Budleigh Salterton and allow this seaside town to thrive for generations to come,” said Leigh.
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