Rural areas to become ‘pensioner pockets’

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

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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