Sir Ewen Cameron, chairman of the Countryside Agency, has argued that tackling the shortage of affordable housing in the countryside is crucial in order to create sustainable rural communities.

Forum Response: Countryside Agency

Sir Ewen Cameron, chairman of the Countryside Agency, said: "Over the last few years low income families in rural England have found it harder and harder to live near their work, their families and their friends. The Countryside Agency has been promoting an alternative planning policy to change this situation.

"It is now being adopted in the government's proposed revisions to PPG 3*; making it possible to allocate sites in rural communities solely for affordable housing is a major step forward. We must act on this and use all the tools and good practice available. But to really succeed we must have the funding to meet housing needs in villages and market towns.

"Regional Housing Strategies have a key role to play and must address rural housing needs. But all the strategies in the world are meaningless unless there are the resources to carry them through into action.

"There is much to be done, but our case is made stronger when we can show that we are using all available means to develop affordable rural housing for the people who really need it."

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Simon Hart, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, told ePolitix.com: "Affordable housing is a serious problem in the countryside and immediate action is required by the government to combat it.

"But, rather than simply building enormous estates and increasing the size of towns in the South East as outlined in John Prescott's sustainable communities plan, requirements for each town and village throughout the country should be met on a local level, by building a small number of affordable houses wherever they are needed, and ensuring that they remain affordable.

"We must ensure that sustainable and vibrant communities are fostered, rather than see huge soulless dormitories built.

"This will help to reduce the speed at which the North-South divide is increasing - something which Prescott's plan would only widen."

Forum Response: National Farmers Union

Barney Holbeche, head of parliamentary affairs at the NFU, said: "The NFU welcomes the attention being given by the Countryside Agency to the shortage of affordable houses in rural areas, which is a very serious problem for the viability of rural communities and for rural industries like farming which depend on local labour.

"We support adjustments being made to the planning system, and the call for more resources to address this difficult issue."