Under embargo until: 00.01hrs Wednesday 3 October 2007
Welsh rural housing concerns to be addressed by independent Commission
A major Commission into rural housing in Wales is being launched today (3 October) at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation Commission on Rural Housing in Wales will provide an independent insight into the issue of housing need in rural Wales. It will build an accurate picture of the current situation in Wales to enable the Commissioners to make informed policy recommendations.
Rising property prices, affordability and the limited supply of social housing in rural areas have all been big concerns in Wales in recent years. The Commission will investigate affordability issues – in 2005 the affordability ratio (average house price divided by mean household income) for rural Wales was 5.92, when two years earlier it stood at 4.21. The Commission will also look at issues such as homelessness, a problem which is particularly acute in rural areas. Between 1978 and 2005 the number of homeless households in urban authority areas rose by 161 per cent, whilst in rural local authorities it rose by 309 per cent.
The Commission will address these issues in a number of ways; it has already sent a consultation paper and questionnaire to organisations across Wales for comment. It will also draw on existing research in the area, hear people’s views and examine new evidence on the issue. It will use these to establish a series of insights and recommendations for policy-makers and practitioners.
Following today’s event, four evidence sessions will be held around the country over the next five months. At these sessions, the Commission will gain input both from policy experts, practitioners and the general public, as well as a written consultation. For those unable to attend the evidence sessions or wishing to submit more detailed evidence, the Commission has also issued a consultation paper which can be found at www.jrf.org.uk/ruralhousingwales or requested on 020 7833 2997.
Derec Llwyd Morgan, who was Vice-chancellor of the University of Wales until 2004, will chair the Commission. The final report on the findings will be written by Professor Paul Milbourne from the University of Cardiff and Director of the Wales Rural Observatory.
Derec Llwyd Morgan said: "This Commission is an excellent opportunity for the Welsh public and housing specialists to share their views on what the real rural housing needs are in Wales. We are delighted that it has been convened by the JRF, as an independent organisation with a strong heritage in the housing policy field. I am looking forward to building on the current work being done already to provide insightful and robust recommendations."
Notes to Editors:
- Derec Llwyd Morgan is available for interview.
- Journalists wishing to attend the event should contact Charlotte Morris on the number below.
- The Commissioners are: Derec Llwyd Morgan, the Chair, Aneurin Philips, Vivienne Sugar, Tim Bennett, Iwan Perry, and Owain Llywelyn.
- A website is available: http://www.jrf.org.uk/ruralhousingwales
- The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is one of the largest social policy research and development charities in the UK. It supports a research and development programme that seeks to understand the causes of social difficulties and explore ways of overcoming them.
Issued by Charlotte Morris, JRF Senior Media Relations Manager: 01904 615 919 / 020 7278 9665 charlotte.morris@jrf.org.uk