CPRE responds to Chancellor’s spending review statement

CPRE has responded to the spending review delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. We highlight the urgent need for investment in rural housing and transport:

Rural communities need homes that match local incomes

More cash for an Affordable Housing Programme is welcome and could make a real difference if it’s directed towards the escalating rural housing crisis.

The way ‘affordable’ housing is defined, as 80 per cent of market value, keeps many new homes out of reach for ordinary people, especially in the countryside.

CPRE is calling on the government to redefine ‘affordable’ housing in line with average local incomes.

Frozen fares mean little without fair access

What use are frozen bus fares if there’s no bus to take? A fifth of bus routes in the countryside have been cut since 2020, while rural communities receive only half as much public transport funding per head compared with those in towns and cities.

The government should urgently ensure that rural communities see their fair share of the £15 billion announced for public transport outside London.