Rural homes crisis (From Western Telegraph)

Rural homes crisis

Planners are promising answers to the housing crisis which is forcing farming families out of the Pembrokeshire countryside.

The shortage of affordable housing means that many farmers' sons and daughters can't afford to stay in the countryside. A strategy is now being drawn up to tackle the issue, with the results due to be published in the next few weeks, according to Pembrokeshire County Council.

It comes after the council and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority formed an Affordable Housing Group in partnership with housing associations.

A spokesman said the housing group is currently developing a draft strategy, which it hopes will be considered by Pembrokeshire County Council cabinet members in the spring.

The council says it recognises the need for affordable housing in Pembrokeshire, particularly in rural areas. Currently, there are 4,300 people on its housing list.

Simon Hart, the Pembrokeshire-based chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, reckons it's time for some radical changes to the planning system.

"Should we be looking at green field sites, building in areas that are not particularly environmentally sensitive?'' he asked.

"If land has no value from an agricultural, environmental or aesthetic point of view, perhaps we should be thinking the unthinkable and looking at them."

Mr Hart welcomed a recent report by the Commission for Rural Communities, which highlights concerns that many rural local authorities are ignoring opportunities to use funds generated bysecond homes to tackle the problems associated with the large number of second homes in the countryside.

"Local authorities should be reinvesting money generated from second homes into rural communities which are suffering as a result of them," said Mr Hart.

Unlike some regions in England, second-home owners in Pembrokeshire get no discount on their council tax bills, unless the property is unfurnished and unoccupied.

One Pembrokeshire community where the housing crisis is particularly acute is Newport.

The grass roots community group To Gwyrdd, which translates to Green Roofs, has been working hard to find solutions.

A recent survey found that of the 816 homes in this rural community, a quarter were second homes or holiday accommodation. The average house price is nearly £250,000, which means that a person on an income of £27,500 would have to earn 9.1 times that amount to secure a mortgage.

To Gwyrdd's co-ordinator, Guy Norman, said the group had identified suitable sites for potential social housing developments and was working with landowners on this issue.

"We are trying to create a model that can be used by other communities who need advice and guidance on this issue. Our aim is to build houses for local people in Newport and also to share that experience with others.''