NHIC comments on Rural Housing Charter

National Home Improvement Council says NHF and CPRE charter "Save rural England, build affordable homes" ignores vast 'new' homes potential that exists in out-of-town empty properties.

Andrew Leech, executive director of the NHIC, says: "Government statistics show that there are nearly 800,000 empty homes around the country, many of them in rural areas, which are crying out to be brought back into mainstream housing.

By improving them and raising them up to 21st century standards with first class insulation and efficient, economical to run heating systems they provide an instant solution to affordable rural housing.

"Also there are many large, rambling village pubs now standing idle, with readymade car parks, which could be easily converted to provide two or three, one-bedroom starter homes".

Andrew Leech suggests: "Look around most rural areas and you will find large, empty houses and, maybe commercial premises too, that have great potential as efficient, low cost housing.

The vast majority of these premises are more substantially constructed than today's new houses.

Bringing them into line with modern high-quality living standards and making them substantially energy efficient is likely to be more economical than to build new houses - and a lot quicker.

What's more, there are no Green Belt issues involved.

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