Fears young people will desert villages

May 16 2008 by Naomi Dunning, Chester Chronicle

RURAL Cheshire villages are in danger of turning into retirement communities due to the lack of affordable housing for young people, says a housing expert.

Cheshire’s Rural Housing Enabler, Philip Addison, has said young people who have been born, brought up and work in rural areas are being priced out of the market and have had to move elsewhere to live and work.

He added misconceptions about affordable housing are preventing local planners from gaining vital community support for new homes.

He said: “We are currently working very hard to change peoples misconceptions about affordable housing, but it is very difficult.”

“People associate affordable housing with undesirable people, and low quality houses, but this is just not the case.”

Mr Addison said some village leaders are not interested in recognising the need for affordable housing, whereas others can be more receptive to the need.

He said: “The initiative we run only allocates homes in rural villages to those that have a connection with the area.

He added: “In Tattenhall the other week, we gave a talk to local people about affordable housing and 77 households registered an interest in the affordable housing in the Tattenhall ward. That is more than 150 people. Of course, that number of homes cannot be built in the area.”

In 2004, an independent Chester and district housing needs survey revealed there was an implied need of 93 households wanting affordable housing in Tarvin, 77 in Malpas and 47 in the Elton ward.

Mr Addison said: “These figures from 2004 are likely to have increased and they won’t be the same people.”

He added: “Those looking for homes in 2004 are likely to have left the area and gone somewhere more affordable.”

He added: “It is vital for our economy and for village life we keep the young people in the village, those young primary school teachers and nurses are needed to prevent the communities turning into retirement villages.”

Kelsall and Farndon have both had affordable housing schemes completed recently, both schemes are now full. Four affordable homes are being completed in Pulford and the housing trust will be allocating the homes.

City Councillor Neil Ritchie said: “It will be interesting to see who registers for these affordable properties. It is all to do with the demand and it is not entirely clear whether the demand is there for these kind of properties, we will have to wait and see.”