Government acts on rural jobs and homes
This morning the Government launches its formal response to the Living Working Countryside review conducted by Liberal Democrat MP for Truro & St Austell Matthew Taylor.
Mr Taylor’s review, published last July, was commissioned by Gordon Brown to examine the problems of sustainable economies and affordable housing in rural communities. The review made recommendations regarding changes in planning and policy to ensure a sustainable future for the countryside and the communities that live there. The review received the support of key organisations including Shelter, the Commission for Rural Communities, and the Country Landowners Association.
Today the Government launches its formal response to the Taylor review.
Commenting on the Government response to his review ’Living Working Countryside’ Mr Taylor said:
"This is an important day for the countryside. No change is no option - the alternative to sustaining and rejuvenating rural communities is to fossilise them, in time forcing out the families and working people without whom farms can’t be tended, shops and services kept running, village schools kept open.
My report, ’Living Working Countryside’, was all about supporting rural communities across England – affordable homes on an appropriate scale earmarked for those who work there, new and better paid local jobs for those who live there, protecting and enhancing village services like schools, shops and pubs for the whole community. Without the action promised by the Government today in response to my report, too often our countryside faces local people priced out, local services closing, and ever fewer and worse paid jobs.
The only substantive recommendation rejected by the government relates to the growth of second homes and holiday lets in some of the most attractive rural villages. In some coastal areas, and the national parks in particular this threatens the sustainability of vital services to the community including shops, schools and public transport. I suggested a trial scheme using planning controls in a national park to restrain further conversion of family homes to part time use in the most affected villages. With this option rejected the alternatives may be either building new affordable homes, which may not always be appropriate or the loss of essential community facilities as they become unviable. I believe a future government will need to re-visit this decision.
"The overwhelmingly positive Government response today to my review promises a big change in attitude to sustaining rural communities. Put into effect these proposals will maintain the attractiveness of rural communities whilst ensuring they remain genuinely living, working communities. It is vital that the vision, set out in my report, of sustainable, living, working rural communities is not lost in translation. It will need the involvement of rural communities themselves in shaping and agreeing what happens on the ground, as well as action from Government nationally, regionally and locally.
"The response means a more positive future for rural business, so in time rural communities no longer see local wages lag 20% below the national average. It means small scale, well designed housing ring-fenced for local people will be easier to achieve where communities want it, so those working in the countryside will be able to afford a home there. It offers hope that growth of market towns can be through much more attractive new neighbourhoods with all the facilities people need, not just endless suburban style estates doughnutting historic rural communities.
"Today’s Government response to my report takes forward almost all my recommendations to sustain a living, working countryside. Over the coming months we will see a series of announcements implementing these changes, action which will empower rural communities to address the very real issues they face."