Action to tackle housing challenge within North Yorkshire's rural heartlands

Council leader Keane Duncan at Ryedale Council, Pictured at Malton Market Place.

Householders in Ryedale are among those facing the biggest challenge in North Yorkshire when it comes to buying their own home, the Home Truths report for 2018 revealed, with average house prices being over 10 times the average income.

Now the leader of Ryedale District Council, Coun Keane Duncan, says more must be done to narrow that divide in ensuring sustainable communities, as an update on the authority’s housing strategy progress is published.

“The biggest problem that we face in Ryedale is the ratio between income and house prices, for people who want to buy their own homes, and for those who want to rent as well,” said Coun Duncan.

“It’s been a problem for a long time, and it seems to be getting more of a challenge. I would like us as a district to be much more proactive in our approach to this.

“We do have some assets, and opportunities, to start building our own homes.

“Small scale to start with, nothing too major, but setting us in the right direction in supplementing the market,” Coun Duncan added.

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A rural commission has been set up within North Yorkshire, to look at challenges such as housing which are being faced by many in the region’s rural communities.

A dire lack of affordable properties available to both buy and rent has been blamed for an exodus of young people from many villages and market towns across the country.

In a report to Ryedale District Council, updating members on the authority’s strategy in meeting housing need to 2021, officers detail progress over the year to April.

The council is set to have created 102 affordable homes, in excess of its target of 75 for the second year running, and there has been an average of 264 new homes built every year, against a target of 200.

But, the report adds, more must be done to bring empty properties back into use and rural areas should be a focus for affordable housing.

Furthermore, but despite ambitions, “no progress has been made” in developing community-led housing.

Coun Duncan heralded the efforts of the council’s housing team, saying it is among the best in the country particularly when it comes to homeless support.

“We can do more, and we will endeavour to do that in the coming years,” he added.

“One of our key priorities is to provide the right kind of home, that people of all generations can afford.

“Older people, and particularly younger people.”