Affordable countryside property 'is needed'
28th Sep 2011
The UK is in need of more affordable housing in the countryside at the moment, according to one expert.
Jill Grieve, head of communications at Countryside Alliance, made the comments after a survey by savings firm Family Investments rated the village of Winkleigh in Devon as the best place in England and Wales for bringing up children.
Winkleigh topped the table thanks to a winning combination of extremely low crime figures, excellent Key Stage 2 results and average property prices of £150,837, which comes as "no surprise" to Ms Grieve.
However, she explained that people living in the countryside are aware that housing in rural areas is increasingly expensive whilst average earnings in the countryside are below those living in urban properties.
"Our own research shows that there is a huge shortfall in affordable housing provision in the countryside which, when coupled with the fact that there are fewer first-time buyers in rural areas, would account for the high and rising costs of rural homes," she added.
The expert said the idea of the rural idyll attracts high earners, but those who live, work and come from the countryside should be able to afford to live there too.
Ensuring adequate affordable housing is a vital part of ensuring that, Ms Grieve explained. 
© Zoopla Property Group Limited