Local residents priced out of the property market and born in rural Bedfordshire have been given a lifeline, thanks to their local council.
Central Bedfordshire Council is pushing a 100% affordable rural exception scheme in a bid to help local people living in rural communities find future housing.
Cllr Ken Matthews, Executive Member for Sustainable Planning and Economic Development said: “There has been an exodus of local people from rural communities up and down the country because of eye watering levels of house prices.
“In Central Bedfordshire we are determined to keep our villages and hamlets stable and help local people live locally.”
The council is proactively seeking to aid development in rural locations, where housing is needed for local residents by aiding and implementing 100% rural exception schemes where possible.
The policy is part of the council’s Housing Strategy, which was passed by Full Council on January 19.
Also included in the Strategy is an emphasis on meeting demand for housing in urban areas.
Cllr Matthews said: “The Council wants to act as an economic powerhouse to help drive forward business growth in Bedfordshire. Housing is key our push for growth and this will be mainly delivered through urban areas and not at the expense of our beautiful countryside and rural communities.”