Rural areas to become ‘pensioner pockets’


Updated on 06 July 2015 | 1 Comment

Young people and families priced out of country towns and villages.

Areas of the countryside could soon become so-called ‘pensioner pockets’, as young people and families are priced out of buying properties there.

This warning comes from the National Housing Federation (CHF) and follows its analysis of population trends, which found the number of pensioners in England’s rural communities will soar by 2021.

It released a list of the top ‘pensioner pockets’, where more than 40% of households will be headed by someone aged 65 or over within six years. Of the 27 ageing districts the NHF has found, just two are urban towns – Christchurch and Arun.

Area

Percentage of households headed by over-65s by 2021

West Somerset

47.4%

North Norfolk

46.3%

Christchurch

45.2%

Rother

45%

Tendring

44.5%

East Devon

44.5%

East Dorset

44.2%

New Forest

42.8%

South Lakeland

42.7%

West Dorset

42.6%

East Lindsey

42.3%

Malvern Hills

42.2%

Arun

42%

Purbeck

41.9%

West Devon

41.8%

Craven

41.7%

Ryedale

41.6%

Derbyshire Dales

41.5%

Isle of Wight UA

41.3%

Waveney

41%

Torridge

40.9%

Wealden

40.7%

South Hams

40.6%

Wyre

40.3%

Cotswold

40.2%

Eden

40.1%

Babergh

40.1%

Source: National Housing Federation

Priced out

[SPOTLIGHT]According to the NHF, the cost of buying a home in 90% of rural areas is now an incredible eight times average earnings. With wages in those areas below the national average, young people and families are being priced out of living there. 

And that’s a big problem – local businesses can’t find local workers, and health and support services are needed to help care for ageing communities. 

David Orr, chief executive of the NHF, said: “All it would take to deal with the acute housing crisis in rural areas is a handful of high quality, affordable new homes in our villages or market towns.”

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