Countryside housing crisis warning

There is a danger the British countryside could become a property "playground for the rich", the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has warned.

The organisation said if no action was taken to deal with the shortage of affordable homes in rural locations, local first-time buyers could be priced out countryside properties.

"The pressures on the countryside have seen a manifest increase over recent years," explained Brian Berry, head of public policy at Rics.

The property expert points out 105,000 people have moved to the country in 2005, up 25 per cent over the five previous five years.

"However, the supply of housing in rural areas has actually been moving in the opposite direction with a four per cent fall in housing completions between 2002 and 2005," he added.

"New housing in the countryside must not repeat the mistakes of the past with poor standards of design which has been so destructive to the beauty of the countryside.

"We support the call for previously developed public land to be made available for affordable housing but also emphasise that development should take place on greenfield sites if deemed to be necessary.

"The countryside and rural areas also need to adapt to changing circumstances and this may include building more homes. The countryside is not a museum."