Doubling of rural house prices shows Government's contempt for rural people says Farron

12.00.00am GMT Thu 17th Dec 2009

Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs spokesperson Tim Farron MP, has today said that young and first-time buyers in South Lakeland are in danger of being priced out of the market thanks to the huge increase in rural house prices under the Labour Government.

Mr Farron's comments came after Regional Affairs Minister Ian Austin released data showing that the cost of buying a home in a rural area of England has at least doubled in almost every part of the country since Labour came to power in 1997.

There are now fears that a lack of affordable rural housing will mean that those on lower incomes, especially young people looking to buy their first home, may be forced to leave rural areas.

Commenting Mr Farron said:

"These figures are a damning example of the Government's failure to look after the interests of people in South Lakeland.

"Over the last decade or so house prices in South Lakeland have risen out of all proportion forcing many people to leave the place where they grew up in order to find a house they can actually afford.

"This is a very dangerous state of affairs as such a mass exodus of young and lower income earners could have a serious impact on the work forces of the community in years to come.

"We need to ensure that anyone who wishes to buy a home in South Lakeland is able to do so and that the focus of future developments in rural areas is on affordable housing rather than lavish properties for the richest in our society."