Weak foundations to rural housing policy – The Yorkshire Post says


However the impatience of Ministers to ‘get Britain building’, their new mantra, must be countered by their responsibility to ensure that new developments meet current regulations and pay sufficient heed to the needs of local areas.
A case in point is Yorkshire’s rural heartlands which were already facing a crisis over the availability of affordable housing long before Covid began to undermine the very foundations of the national and international economy.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBut it also requires a far more nuanced response than developers being compelled to set aside a designated number of new properties for social housing – a particular problem in the Dales, for example, is the number of houses that are, in fact, not built once planning permission has been granted and local sensitivities overcome.


And that means national, regional and local bodies developing a strategy that incentivises developers, and others, to build affordable housing – it is clear that current inducements do not go far enough – while also ensuring that the aesthetic appeal of rural areas is safeguarded.
It will not happen, however, if the Government allows its reforms, however well-intended, to become a planning ‘free-for-all’ and overlook critical issues, like the availability of low cost-homes in the countryside, that are fundamental if an area like North Yorkshire is to flourish as the place to live and work.
Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.
Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSo, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.
Thank you
James Mitchinson
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.