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| 'Lost generation' in rural Wales | 'Lost generation' in rural Wales |
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| A report on rural housing in Wales warns parts of the countryside "will lose the next generation of young people" without big changes in policy. | A report on rural housing in Wales warns parts of the countryside "will lose the next generation of young people" without big changes in policy. |
| The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found rural homeless levels have risen more sharply than urban areas, yet there are 18,000 vacant homes in rural areas. | The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found rural homeless levels have risen more sharply than urban areas, yet there are 18,000 vacant homes in rural areas. |
| The assembly government is expected to give its response later. | The assembly government is expected to give its response later. |
| The Conservatives said the charity's research "highlights the clear failures in assembly government policy". | The Conservatives said the charity's research "highlights the clear failures in assembly government policy". |
| An eight-month study by the charity has concluded there is an increasing unmet housing need in rural Wales with the problems of affordability becoming more acute. | An eight-month study by the charity has concluded there is an increasing unmet housing need in rural Wales with the problems of affordability becoming more acute. |
| The report found social housing supply was more limited than in urban areas and rural homelessness levels had increased sharply. | The report found social housing supply was more limited than in urban areas and rural homelessness levels had increased sharply. |
| REPORT MAIN FINDINGS Councils should use a significant proportion of second-home council tax to respond to housing needsA network of at least 12 "rural housing enablers" should be establishedThe assembly government should develop and promote good practice in bringing vacant properties back in to useA database of public land with potential for development should be createdA single definition of housing need and a single methodology for calculating them needs to be developed by ministers Joseph Rowntree Foundation Commission on Rural Housing in Wales | REPORT MAIN FINDINGS Councils should use a significant proportion of second-home council tax to respond to housing needsA network of at least 12 "rural housing enablers" should be establishedThe assembly government should develop and promote good practice in bringing vacant properties back in to useA database of public land with potential for development should be createdA single definition of housing need and a single methodology for calculating them needs to be developed by ministers Joseph Rowntree Foundation Commission on Rural Housing in Wales |
| It found the average house price was now more than five times the average income in all rural local authority areas. | It found the average house price was now more than five times the average income in all rural local authority areas. |
| The charity said the assembly government's plans to build 6,500 affordable homes across Wales by 2011 were "ambitious" but around three times more properties were needed for rural Wales alone. | The charity said the assembly government's plans to build 6,500 affordable homes across Wales by 2011 were "ambitious" but around three times more properties were needed for rural Wales alone. |
| It said the assembly government should develop and promote good practice guides for councils on how to bring vacant properties back into use. | It said the assembly government should develop and promote good practice guides for councils on how to bring vacant properties back into use. |
| The report recommends a "significant proportion" of second-home council tax should be used by rural local authorities to respond to housing needs in their areas. | The report recommends a "significant proportion" of second-home council tax should be used by rural local authorities to respond to housing needs in their areas. |
| One suggestion is the establishment of network of rural housing "enablers" to identify needs and sites for affordable housing. | One suggestion is the establishment of network of rural housing "enablers" to identify needs and sites for affordable housing. |
| Derec Llwyd Morgan, the commission chair said: "Unless you have houses, you won't have workers staying in rural Wales. | Derec Llwyd Morgan, the commission chair said: "Unless you have houses, you won't have workers staying in rural Wales. |
| "One of the problems we find is that young people cannot afford to stay there, so they migrate to the towns and cities, leaving rurality to the older people or non-working people." | |
| The report calls for a database of public land suitable for development | The report calls for a database of public land suitable for development |
| Steffan Harries, 26, from Trelech, Carmarthenshire, has been trying for two years to obtain planning permission on a plot of land he owns on the outskirts of the village. | Steffan Harries, 26, from Trelech, Carmarthenshire, has been trying for two years to obtain planning permission on a plot of land he owns on the outskirts of the village. |
| There is a dilapidated old building on the site. He has been refused planning permission because the plot is outside the development plan for that area. | There is a dilapidated old building on the site. He has been refused planning permission because the plot is outside the development plan for that area. |
| He said he feels aggrieved that planning permission has been granted for around 12 houses in the village, none of which will be affordable. | He said he feels aggrieved that planning permission has been granted for around 12 houses in the village, none of which will be affordable. |
| He said: "There's a lot of talk about people moving out of rural areas to towns, you'd think that they'd try and do more to help young people stay in rural areas." | He said: "There's a lot of talk about people moving out of rural areas to towns, you'd think that they'd try and do more to help young people stay in rural areas." |
| Primary school teacher Hedd Tudur, 23, works in Carmarthen and wants to buy a house anywhere between the town and Llanelli. | Primary school teacher Hedd Tudur, 23, works in Carmarthen and wants to buy a house anywhere between the town and Llanelli. |
| But on a salary of around £20,000, he said there was hardly anything he could afford. | But on a salary of around £20,000, he said there was hardly anything he could afford. |
| He said: "You're looking at £130,000. On the wage I'm on at the moment it's impossible for me on my own to afford that. I'll need a few more years to save for a deposit, it's tough. | He said: "You're looking at £130,000. On the wage I'm on at the moment it's impossible for me on my own to afford that. I'll need a few more years to save for a deposit, it's tough. |
| Shadow Housing Minister and North Wales AM Mark Isherwood said the report made "worrying reading". | Shadow Housing Minister and North Wales AM Mark Isherwood said the report made "worrying reading". |
| He said: "Affordability blights many lives and deprives many communities in Wales of their young people who are forced to move away because of high house prices and the lack of suitable properties." | He said: "Affordability blights many lives and deprives many communities in Wales of their young people who are forced to move away because of high house prices and the lack of suitable properties." |
| The Welsh Assembly Government is set to make an announcement on affordable housing policy later on Wednesday. | The Welsh Assembly Government is set to make an announcement on affordable housing policy later on Wednesday. |