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Protecting Shropshire

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“The choice is between becoming ever more exclusive enclaves of the wealthy and retired, or building the affordable homes to enable people who work in these communities to continue to live in them.” Matthew Taylor MP

Affordable housing has become a prominent issue in politics and planning over the last few years and will remain high on the agenda. CPRE recognises the need for affordable housing, particularly to provide a mix of accommodation so that rural communities remain alive and socially inclusive. But we must be careful that the need for affordable rural housing does not put unacceptable development pressure on the rural landscape and that measures put in place to protect the environment are not disregarded. See "Homes needed at the centre of rural lives".

Between 1997 and 2007, 341,000 people aged between 24-35 left the English countryside, one in five (22%) of the total number in the age range, according to official statistics analysed by the National Housing Federation. One of the most severe examples of the demographic trend was in South Shropshire, where 36.7% of the people aged 24-35 left the area. The average house costs 16.5 times the average income in the county.

Further Information

• “It is time to stop just talking about the countryside and to start reviving it”. CPRE Shropshire reacts to the report from the Rural Advocate (4 March 2010)
• "Homes needed at the centre of rural lives". CPRE Shropshire letter to the Shropshire Star setting out our views on affordable housing (May 2009)
• "Village life 'will die within a generation' as costs force young people to cities", Daily Telegraph (May 2009)
• CPRE Shropshire response to Shropshire Council Interim Planning Guidance on Affordable Housing (April 2009)
• CPRE Shropshire response to Unitary Authority housing strategy (October 2008)
• Save Rural England, Build Affordable Homes (CPRE & NHF Charter October 2008)
• National Housing Federation: Rural housing: Save our villages
• Glossary of Affordable Housing Terms