More than 60% of land owners would build more homes to rent and buy if they had more confidence in the processes of local councils, a new study states.
Country Landowners Association (CLA), which represents land owners, farmers and rural businesses, put together the study and found that 50% of their members feel like there’s a housing crisis happening in their own community.
The reason that keeps them from building more homes is a complex planning system that is felt to be too risky and inflexible.
More than 20% of CLA members have made plans to develop another property or two over the next five years. However, 63% also stated that they were willing to build more homes if the local council gave them better support when it comes to the planning process.
The organisation came to the conclusion that giving smaller, private developers more certainty and better support could help in ending the shortage of homes available for everyone.
Ross Murray, CLA president, commented the findings:
“The rural housing challenge we face is to deliver a range of much needed homes which will reinvigorate our rural areas across England and Wales and help to build a stronger, more sustainable countryside.”
“Over six million people live in our rural communities. Planning policy must be more positive about the socio-economic benefits that development can bring about, and should focus more on what development is needed to ensure these areas thrive in the future, rather than attempting to restrict settlement growth,” he continued.
A stronger growth rate across smaller towns and villages could make a huge difference to the country’s housing shortage. The study found that 25% of CLA members want to build affordable homes and 40% are hoping to build homes to rent, which means it’s obvious that rural land owners have the capacity to help, they’re just missing the support to make it happen.
“Without a mix of homes for people who want to live and work in the countryside, rural areas are at risk of becoming only the preserve of commuters, the retired and holiday homes,” Murray added.
